"Passing Life's Tests with Flying Colors"

Scripture: "… when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold." -Job 23:10, NIV

Back in our school days and even workdays now, the barometer used to see if you understood a set of material was a test. Tests come in multiple forms, true-false, fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, short answer, essay, and the list goes on and on. During my school days, the question was posed to me, "Did you pass today's test?" If I did okay, I would let them know that "I'm praying for an A or a B". On the other hand, when I knew I aced a test, I would say that "I passed that test with flying colors". Spiritually, God sends us tests on a daily basis. Just as I would say that I passed the test with flying colors because I studied and prepared, He wants us to echo those same sentiments. Today's text illustrates an example of this statement.

Today's devotional is set in the first Poetic book of the Old Testament, Job. Job was a man who was upright, hated evil, and loved God on a great and intense level. He loved his children so much that he sacrificed offerings on their behalf for their sins and wrongdoings. Throughout the duration of this book, we find God allowing the enemy to attack Job. Within the enemy's attack, he destroyed Job's family, Job's wealth, Job's body, but he did not take Job's soul because God told him he couldn't! Ladies and gentlemen, the enemy will attack you on all sides, but he cannot attack your soul! God has your soul protected and we can further protect it by reading and digesting His Word! Despite his various attacks, Job would not curse God (the enemy's intent), he kept on fighting and moving, and even had conversations with his "so-called" friends. Today's focal chapter, Chapter 23, serves as a response to his "friend" Eliphaz's comments, in Chapter 22.

Today's portion of the main scripture begins with this phrase from Job: "When He has tested me". God is the giver of these tests. God is the proctor, He is the test maker, and He is the teacher. You know what the blessing is about God being the test giver, the proctor, and test maker? He has given you the study material in order to pass the test! He has given you opportunity to ask questions before the test! He even gives you opportunity to ask questions during the test! Though Job was in great distress, he had enough integrity to know that it was God that allowed these trials and tribulations to occur in his life. When you are experience financial troubles, it's only a test! When you are experiencing physical ailments, it's only a test! When you are experiencing emotional issues, it's only a test! When your marriage is on the rocks, it's only a test! Because we know God created these tests, we can pass them with flying colors!

We know that we can pass life's tests with flying colors because Job made this declaration himself. He concludes today's main text by saying, "I will come forth as gold". Not only did he say that he would pass the test, but he showed a color that is proof of him passing the test. He said that he will come forth as GOLD. Ladies and gentlemen, the prettiest gold one wears come when it has experienced some heat to remove the impurities and other unnecessary junk involved. When you pass life's tests with flying colors, God places you through tests to clean out the impurity of jealousy, the impurity of hatred, the impurity of misunderstanding, the impurity of low self-esteem, the impurity of being defensive, the impurity of being offensive, the impurity of being a talker and not a listener, the impurity of selfishness, the impurity of greed, and others. As God placed these tests to purge these impurities out of you, realize and recognize that He has given you some "cheat sheets" in order to pass with flying colors! He has given you Jesus, He has given you the Holy Spirit, He has given you His Word, He has given you the ability to pray, and He has given you wisdom from family and friends in order to make it! As these impurities are cleansed from you, my brother, and my sister, then you can decree like Job that you will come forth as gold! You will be that 24K gold, shiny, and beautiful! You must allow God to place some fire on you in order to shine!

In closing, passing life's tests with flying colors is not an easy task. It takes work, prayer, fasting, and other things to make it happen. It also takes enduring the tests God places on you. Just as Job said, he knew that God was testing him, but he will come forth as gold. As we know, Job stood his ground and his life was truly golden indeed! Don't you want to pass life's tests with flying colors and be the "gold standard" around your office, home, and church?