LIFE IS A TEST, TRUST AND TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT

     Life on earth is just the dress rehearsal before the real production. For all we know, earth is the staging area, the preschool, the tryout for our life in eternity. It is the practice workout before the actual game; the warm-up lap before the race begins. Death was actually not our termination, but our trnsition into eternity, so there are eternal consequences to everything we do here on earth. Every act of our lives strikes some chord that will vibrate in eternity. To make the most of our life, we must keep the vision of eternity continually in our mind and the value of it in our heart. There's far more to life that just here and now. "Today is the visible tip of the iceberg. Eternity is all the rest you don't see underneath the surface." For instance, if we think life is a party, our primary value in life will be having fun. If we see life as a race, we will value speed and will probably be in a hurry much of the time. If we see life as a battle or a game, winning will be very important. (You think, this is right?) Hmmm
     
     God continually tests people's character, faith, obedience, love, integrity and loyalty. Character is both developed and revealed by tests and all of life is a TEST. We are always being tested. God constantly watches our responses to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointment and even the weather! We don't really know the tests God will give to us, but we can predict some of them, based on the bible. A very important test is how we act when we can't feel God's presence in our life. But you know, sometimes God intentionally draws back, and we don't sense his closeness.

     When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life. Even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. We must take this in mind, every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love or to depend on God. The Bible says, "God keeps his promise and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out." We are stewards of whatever God gives us. The world and all that in it belong to the Lord; the earth and all who live on it are his. We are the only one who should take care to all of it.

     We must not forget the two truths: First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a temporary residence. We won't be here long, so don't get too attached. Okay? We're just passing through, just visiting earth. We can actually call ourselves an alien, pilgrim, foreinger, stranger, visitor and traveler. The things we see noe are here and gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever. If that so, why we give so much importance on the things that were so temperary? What was we're thinking? Why did we waste so much time, energy, and concern on what wasn't going to last?! Well, life gets tough. You know that? When we're overwhelmed with doubt or when we wonder if living for Christ is worth the effort, we should rememeber that we are not home yet. At death we won't leave home, we'll go home.

"Unless you are faithful in small things, you won't be faithful in large ones."
-Luke 16:10 (nlt)

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

-2 Corinthians 4:18