Life is NOT a test
I've not been keeping up with my "40-day spiritual journey", a.k.a. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. It's becoming more like The 80-day Spiritual Journey!!!
Anyway, yesterday I read Chapter 5 (now you know what I mean - I started the book on Jan 27!). Talking about seeing life from God's view, Warren wrote that the Bible uses three metaphors to teach us God's view of life: Life is a test, life is a trust, and life is a temporary assignment. He went on:
- Life on earth is a Test. This life metaphor is seen in stories throught the Bible. God continually tests people's character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty... all of life is a test. You are always being tested. God constantly watches your response to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointment, and even the weather!
...Every time you pass a test, God notices and makes plans to reward you in eternity.
Such a view brings us too close to the common misconception that God is a cruel puppeteer who makes us jump through hoops, or a gamemaster who manipulates us like pawns on a chessboard. And He is not like that!
To say that all of life is a test implies that God put us on this earth to undergo some sort of obstacle/endurance course, with those who perform well getting to spend eternity with Him in heaven as a reward. Hey! This is SO wrong!!!
It's a very performance-oriented kind of perspective, and a very humanistic, self-centred one. It puts the spotlight firmly on ourselves, focusing on how we respond to the "tests", what we choose to do, how we decide to behave. It cuts God out of the picture. And life on earth is not all about us - it's all about God! Always all about Him.
God doesn't sit on a throne in heaven, scrutinising our every move, awarding marks for performance. No, He's actively involved in our lives, in our hearts, in our every moment. He's constantly speaking to us, His Holy Spirit guiding us with His still small voice.
How can life be a test? If all of life were a test, we'd be disqualified for having God with us, an ever-present help in times of need! (Psalm 46:1) How can life be about performing, and performing well, when God keeps on intervening? LOL
Yes, I know the Bible mentions words like "testing" and "trials" countless times, and I believe these are ordained by God to develop our character ("Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" - Romans 5:3-4). While life encompasses the occasional test, I believe life is primarily a journey with God.
We are called to walk with Him while on this earth and "let your light so shine before men". We are called to a relationship with Him as our Father. To say that life is merely a series of tests makes a mockery of our days on earth and insults God. The very idea!