biggest test
“O my God, I know that you examine the heart and delight in integrity.” – 1 Chronicles 29:17a
God tests His children to know what is in their hearts. God’s desire is for each of His children to walk in relationship with Him, maintaining His righteousness and integrity. This is a high calling that we will fail to attain without complete dependence on Him.
The greatest test comes not in great adversities, but in great prosperity. Because it is in prosperity that we begin to lose sensitivity to sin in our lives. Adversity propels us toward righteousness by the desire to see our adversity transformed. Prosperity fails to provide this motivation for obedience. We sink into a satisfaction and confidence in life that is based on our prosperity rather than on God.
Hezekiah was a great righteous king. He was a loyal, God-respecting king for most of his life, but he eventually became arrogant. God wanted to know if he would still respect her and recognize her blessings in his life. When God sent a messenger to Hezekiah’s palace to inquire about a miracle performed on his behalf, he failed the test. The trial was designed to find out whether Hezekiah would publicly acknowledge the miracle performed on his behalf.
But when the rulers of Babylon sent messengers to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in that country, God released him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart. (2 Chronicles 32:31)
Hezekiah’s failure resulted in his children failing to succeed as rulers of Israel, and the nation ultimately fell to Babylon.
The lesson of Hezekiah is clear. If we are to remain loyal to our Lord, we must be steadfast in our obedience to Him. Prosperity can be our greatest test. Pray for the Lord to grant you the grace to be a faithful follower in times of prosperity.
