Can You Pass The Test?

Genesis 13:7; 12:10;13:11

Difficulties and trying circumstances do not always indicate that a person is out of the will of God.
God may gives us testings for our benefit.
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation (testing): for when he he is tried,
he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."
(James 1:12)

" That the trial of your faith ... might be found unto praise and honour and glory
at the appearing of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1: 7)

The testing time is a time of refining which results in maturity and growth.
A person is never the same after being tested.
Our response to that hour of testing determines whether if there is victory or defeat.

Our passage of Scripture in Genesis tells one of the saddest, most troubling, most distressing,
most shameful experiences in the lives of God's people in this world.
It describes the strife between Abraham and Lot.

This strife led to separation, and a separation which led to even greater sorrow.
It was a strife between members of the same family.
Abraham was Lot's Uncle.
It was a strife between two men who had enjoyed the closest possible spiritual communion
and fellowship.
Abraham was Lot's spiritual father.
He was the person by whom Lot had learned of God.

In our scripture passages we will notice three situations.
There is a famine in the land.
There is strife between Abram's servants and Lot's servants.
Then, there is the separation of Lot from Abraham.

First, there is the disaster test.
"And there was a famine in the land ... the famine was grievous." (Genesis 12:10)

There are two alternatives.
The first alternative is that Abraham can remain in the land and trust God to see him
through the disaster.
The second alternative is that Abraham can journey to Egypt where there is a pasture land
and a land of plenty.
This is the alternative that he decides.

We can see ourselves in Abraham.
Rationality would dictate that such a decision while faith would dictate staying in the land.
Egypt actually means "the house of slaves."
Throughout Biblical history God's people have never done very well in Egypt

So Abraham went to Egypt.
"... Went down in to Egypt to sojourn there." (Genesis 12:10)
Two facts are most conspicuous.
One is Abram's deception and half truth when he said to Sarai in Genesis 12:13:
"Say ... thou art my sister."

Sarai, his wife, was very beautiful.
The Egyptian prince lusted upon her, and would desire her for carnal purposes.
The compromise of Abram is an indication of the price that the believer must pay
to live in the world (Egypt).

Then, Abram left the altar out of his life while he was in Egypt.
There is no mention of the altar during all the time he was in Egypt.
He had abandoned the altar, sacrifice, worship, and acknowledging Jehovah God.
Upon his return from Egypt, his first the activity was the re-establishment of the altar.
(Genesis 13:3,4)

Then, we notice Abram's recovery. (Genesis 13:1-4)

First, he forsook Egypt. "And Abram when out of Egypt." (Genesis 13: 1)
At a later time in history, Moses and the people of Israel did the same thing.
By faith, Moses forsook Egypt "Choosing rather to suffer affliction ...
Than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." (Hebrews 11:25, 27)
Egypt represents the world system, and is never a friend to God or His people.

Abram came to Bethel. "And he went... to Bethel." (Genesis 13: 3)
Bethel is the house of God.
Here he would refresh his memory and revive his spirit because it was here that
"he builded an altar ... and called upon the name of the Lord." (Genesis 12:8,9)

Abram reestablished the altar.
"The altar, which he had made there at the first." (Genesis 13: 4)
The altar represented worship, communion, and fellowship with God.
Abraham's experience in Egypt is a vivid testimony of what happens to faith
when the altar is left out.

Next is the prosperity test.
"And Abram was very rich in cattle, and silver, and in gold ... Lot also... had flocks,
and herds, and tents." (Genesis 13: 2, 5)

Prosperity is the direct opposite of adversity and disaster.
Even so, it is likely that prosperity is a more severe test, and is also more difficult to overcome.
It is in this prosperity that the sin of covetousness raises its ugly head.

Their great substance led Abram and Lot to strife. (Genesis 13:7)
We can truly say that these two men had it made.
But prosperity, instead of leading to contentment, often leads to friction and feuding.
Contentment does not come from gain "but godliness with contentment is great gain."
(1 Timothy 6:6)

The taste of prosperity often leads to a craving and desire for more.
It is this spirit that leads to a canker of the soul.
The question is whether we possess our possessions or do our possessions possess
and control us.

Their strife led to separation.
"Separate thyself I pray thee, from me." (Genesis 13: 9)

Abram displays a personal generosity as we see in Genesis 13: 8:
"Let there be no strife ... between me and thee."
He takes the initiative to stop any friction.
Abram recognizes their personal relationship.
"We be brothers." (Genesis 13: 8)
Kinship should beget love and cause each to esteem the other before himself.

Abram presents a totally, unselfish solution.
"If thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left." (Genesis 13: 9)

Abraham did not contend for his "rights."
His "giving in" reveals his true character and strength,
and is not a sign of cowardice or weakness.
His actions would remind us of our Lord Jesus who gave Himself up that He might redeem us.
And, at a subsequent date, Abram did redeem Lot from the capture of the kings of the East.
(Genesis 14:16)

Next test is the decision or choice test.
"Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan." (Genesis 13:11)

Disaster and prosperity are not the only circumstances under which faith is tested.
There may be an even more subtle tactic.
Disaster may strike only once or twice in an entire lifetime or it may never come.

Prosperity may never come to most of us.
However, each one of us -- young, middle age, or older years face almost daily
the dilemma of making a choice.
Life is not so much a chance as a series of choices.

Right choices to lead to a blessed destiny and conclusion.
Wrong choices lead to peril and danger.

Lot made at a poor choice, and lived to see the folly of his decision.
He lost everything he had, plus all the prospect that he might have had.
Think about Lot's motivation.
He saw that he would make it big in the plain.
"And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan,
that it was well-watered everywhere."
(Genesis 13:10)

Abraham and Lot were standing on one of the high mountains of Canaan looking to the east.
Lot saw all the well-watered, fertile plains of Sodom and the rich hills of Moab.
It reminded him of the garden of Eden, which he had heard Abraham describe.

And he chose that as his choice.
He left the tents of Abraham for the tents of Sodom.
He left the altar of Abraham for the hills of Moab.
He left the worship of Bethel for the riches of the plain.
He saw.
He coveted.
And he took it.

He had no regard for anything spiritual, nor for his own soul, or the glory of God,
Lot chose the rich plains of Sodom.
His choice was sad.
It tells us much about Lot.
He had too much love for this world.

And he had too little concern for his own soul, and the souls of those who were
under his influence.
There was no prophet in Sodom - only riches.
There was no altar in Sodom - only land.
There was no believers in Sodom - only people of the world.
From the moment that Lot made his choice, he began to decline.

Lot did not see the the warfare that was going on.
Genesis 14:4 tells us that a major war was on the horizon.
What could be worse than leaving a family feud, and then become engulfed
in a horrible, military conflict.
In reality, Lot did what the old saying when he "jumped from the frying pan into the fire."

He saw grass for his cattle, but he did not see the loss of his family.
He didn't consider the loneliness that would invade the soul of a man
with a barn full of cattle, and without a family in his house.

Limited vision led Lot to a tragic choice.
"Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan." (Genesis 13:11)
This shows us the result of his shortsighted, selfish vision.

His choice meant two things.
It meant that he would be separated from a godly influence in Abram.
"And they separated themselves the one from the other." (Genesis 13:11)

It also meant an alliance with the wickedness of Sodom.
"He dwelleth in the cities of the plain ... pitched his tent ...
but the men of Sodom were wicked ... exceedingly." (Genesis 13: 12,13)

Wrong choices always have consequences.
Lot is soon a victim of war.
His family and goods are taken and plundered. (Genesis 14:14,16)
Lastly, he lost his cattle, his wealth, and most of his family in the overthrow of Sodom.
(Genesis 19:25, 26)

Now let us contrast Lot to Abram (Genesis 13:14-18)
The Lord directs Abram to lift up his eyes in every direction. (Genesis 13: 14)
This is a great contrast to Lot, who lifted up his own eyes. (Genesis 13:10)
Abram in the hills is more blessed of God than Lot in the plain.
Abram build an altar at Hebron, while Lot never build an altar in Sodom.

The way we respond to testing times is pivotal.
A wrong response may weaken or damage the life of faith.
On the other hand, the proper response may result in a new strength
and added blessings to the life of faith.
Gods purpose in testing us will be beneficial to us.

The trials and testing of Job resulted in clearer vision and understanding of the purpose
and power of God.
There are many examples that illustrate the positive results from our being tested.
The Psalmist likens our testing to that of being refined like silver. (Psalm 66:10)
In 1 Peter 1:7, we read that our trials is like that of gold being refined in order to remove
all its impurities
By the testing of our faith, God causes us to grow and mature into strong disciples
who live by faith in Him.

When testing and trials come our way, we should receive them with joy
because we know that it is God who allows them in order to strengthen our faith.
When we are knocked about in the storms of life, like the tree that digs its roots ever deeper
for a greater grip, we must dig our roots deeper into God's Word
so we can withstand whatever comes against us.

Most comforting of all, we know that God will never allow us to be tested
beyond what we are able to handle, and in all things will provide a way out of the test.
(1 Corinthians 10:13).
After His testing, we become stronger and more mature Christians.
Will You pass the test?

Jesus said in Luke 16:10 that "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much;
and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much."

I read a story of a wise, elderly man who owned a dry-cleaning business.
Periodically, he would hire young men to help him run his shop.

The first day on the job, every new employee was instructed by the shop owner
to carefully check the pockets of each bundle of dirty clothing.
Unknown to that new employee, the owner secretly placed a quarter in the pocket
of one pair of trousers that the beginner was to check.

If the new employee, upon discovering the quarter, brought it to his employer
so that it would be returned to its rightful owner, he was hired permanently.
If the trainee kept the quarter, he was told not to return to work.

The owner had learned that the man who can't be trusted with small things
is not going to prove himself trustworthy with larger things.
If an employee would steal a customer's quarter, he certainly couldn't be trusted
to operate the cash register when the owner was absent.

We must remember that trust must be earned.
God is much wiser than that elderly man who owned that dry-cleaning business.
He, too, will only use and bless those whom He can trust.
For that reason, God will test us to see if we can be trusted.
We will be given occasions to prove ourselves and given opportunities to earn God's trust.

Our faith will be tried in all kind of situations.
Our lives are one constant state of testing.

Our resolve to do right will be tested.
Our relationships with others, friends, foe or spouse will be tested.
Our moral values will be tried.

Have you ever laughed at an off-color story?
Welcome to the test of spiritual values.
Our faith will be tested.
Have you ever questioned the "will of God?"
Our faith and virtue will be tested.

Just as silver and gold must be tried by the fire, not to destroy it, but to separate the precious metal
from the dross, just as the diamond must be cut to shape it into a valuable gem,
our trials are intended by God to purify our hearts and mold us into the image of his dear Son.

Our trials are also given so that we would long for heaven.
When God permits strife to rise between believers, especially of the same family,
it is to teach us that this world of sin, strife, and sorrow is not our home.

These painful, shameful domestic troubles and testing are permitted by God so that
we may learn by them, that we may learn patience, forbearance, and kindness
toward one another.

Sermon adapted by Dr. Harold L. White