The Great Test
A teacher wanted
to know if the students were utilizing what they were learning in his class. So
he decided to give the class a different type of test, an examination that
would not only evaluate what they knew, but show what they were able to use.
This test would not only be hard, but the students would not be told on which
day it would be given. The teacher merely warned the students to be prepared
for an exam which could be given at any time. And this one test alone would
determine the student’s grade for the class, determine whether they passed it
or not.
Some students were
a bit scared of having but one test determine the
outcome of the class. They kept up with the lectures and assignments of the class, they were ready for the test at any time. But many
other students believed the test had to be given towards the end of the class
semester, when most of the course material had been presented. They didn’t have
to worry about this class until the very end of semester. Then they could study
hard, catch up, have the material fresh in their minds right before the test
would be given.
When the students
had completed about two/thirds of the semester, the teacher suddenly handed out
the dreaded test at the beginning of class. The teacher told the class the
instructions were at the top of the test, these written instructions were all
that was needed, that there was to be no more talking, and to begin the test
when they received it. There was a deep sigh from the class. Some were upset at
themselves for not being prepared, others had a few
choice words for the teacher. The test was three long pages of essay answers.
Many quickly began going down the questions, writing the answers or jotting
down quick notes before they would lose some of their instant recall. The room
was quiet as the students began working, one could feel the tension, almost see
the smoke coming out of the minds being blown trying to figure out the answers.
Then an oddity
began to appear. While some students were struggling on the first page others
began turning their tests in and leaving the classroom. Had a fraternity,
sorority, dorm hall, or other group gotten the test and passed the answers out
to their friends? If so they were sure a stupid lot. Finishing that quickly
would surely tip off the teacher they had been cheating. They should wait and
turn their tests in at the end with everyone so no one would suspect them. Then
towards the end of the allotted time for the test another strange occurrence
began to happen. Some students were frantically trying to erase answers, while
some others had just thrown their papers up in the air and walked out. When all
the students reached the end of the test they finally understood what was going
on. The last question said, “The instructions at the beginning of the test told
you to read all of the questions before writing down any answers. Do not do any
of the questions on the test except this last one. If you answer this last question correctly,
you have answered all the other questions on this test correctly also. But if
you have written down any answers on your paper other than for this last
question, or do not answer this last question correctly, you have failed this
course from the beginning. For you have never opened your mind to what I wanted
to teach you most. You must always care about what you are doing in life. For
only then will you be willing to follow instructions which will prepare you for
anything that you face in life. Otherwise everything you learn is useless.”
Jesus came down
from Heaven to be our great teacher. Our Lord wants us all to love Him, and
love can only be given, never forced or taken. We were all created with a free
will which enables us to choose what we want to do. But with a free will we
alone are accountable for all that we do with our lives. Our Heavenly Father
has warned us that all will be given a final test. We do not know when we
individually will be given this, when our Lord will take us out of this world.
Believers do not have worry about being prepared, about knowing the correct
answer. Because the moment we accepted our Savior the perfect answer was
written in our hearts, our names have already been written in the Book of Life.
Those who do not know Jesus, who have not accepted Christ, are walking a fine
line. They neither understand the question that will be asked, nor know the
correct answer in their hearts. The question all have to answer, the greatest
question of all, the question that answers all other questions, the question
that open’s Heaven’s gates or locks one in Hell forever is very simple. Jesus
will ask us, “Do you love me, do you
really love me more than anything else?”
Many will feel
relieved that the question is so easy, for it is not hard to say one loves
Jesus. But it is not the hot air coming out of our mouth’s that save us, but
the passion in our hearts. Peter, at the Last Supper, told Jesus he would never
deny the Savior. Peter was even willing to defend our Master with a knife when
Jesus was arrested. But Peter could not face public humiliation. Today we might
call it peer pressure or even political correctness. Peter denied Jesus three
times, the last time with a curse. Only when Peter was given the Holy Spirit
did he have the strength to stand up for Christ, could he truly answer that he
loved the Lord above all things. Only when we let the Spirit dwell in our
hearts, are we able to love Jesus above all things.
… Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?
He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him,
Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time,
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?
He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him,
Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon,
son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter
was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all
things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus
saith unto him, Feed my sheep. John 21:15-17 KJV
The answer to the
question of how much we love Jesus answers all the questions on how we will
live our lives. When Jesus is the most important thing in our lives we will do
to the best of our abilities everything our Savior has commanded us to do. We will love others as ourselves, tell the
good news of Christ to all, gladly help the needy as we would want to be
helped, and follow our Lord’s instructions in the Scriptures.
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou
wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when
thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird
thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. Jn
21:18-19 KJV
Peter now loved
Jesus enough to die for Him. Peter later in his life would have the strength to
be led to the cross, stretch out his hands, and die the painful death of
crucifixion. Peter was crucified because he would not deny Jesus, because he
loved Jesus more than anything else, even his own life. Because of his great
love for Jesus, Peter was able to glorify God even in his death. This is what
real Christian love, real Christian passion in our hearts is all about. Not
mere words that float into the air, but the passionate love in one’s heart to
give all they have to the one they love the most, Jesus.
Believers
love Jesus above all things, love all others as themselves, strive to live
their lives as their Master would have them. We will never be able to
completely live as our Lord would have us live here on earth, we will always
sin. But that is just another reason why we love our Savior. Jesus loved us
enough to come down from Heaven, become man, and die on a cross to atone for
our sins. When we repent Jesus graciously forgives our sins, they are
remembered no more. True Christians allow the Spirit, to live in our hearts,
bring the love of Christ into our lives, spiritually assure us we are the
children of God. Anytime Jesus asks us, “Do
you love me,” we can humbly proclaim, “Yes Jesus I love you more than
anything else. Please forgive all of my sins and give me the strength to follow
you all the days of my life.”
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Phil 1:21 ASV
Copyright
2007-2008 by Ron Borkey