Test

I really don’t like to hear the word “test” but we have had them all our lives. There were test in school, at the place where we work and then those test at the hospital or doctors office; I really want to pass those! How does Mr. Webster explain the word test? This is what he has to say… To compare with a standard; to try; to prove the truth or genuineness of anything by experiment or by some fixed principle or standard;   So with a test there is also some type of grading, standard or fixed principle. When I took a math test there was an answer sheet and as long as my answers were the same as the answer sheet then they were correct according to the standard. In medical test as long as my blood pressure is in line with the normal set of numbers then according to the standard all is well, I passed the test. But in order for there to be a standard there must be first a teaching for if we are not taught how can we know the standard? In Mark chapter 4 we read these words

Mark 4:1 And he (Jesus) began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

Mark 4:2  And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, You can be sure that when we are taught something there will come a test sooner or later. I hated to hear the teacher say “we’re going to have a pop quiz today.” But this is the case as we read on into Mark chapter 4 we read that on the same day that Jesus was teaching he also gave his disciples a test. We find the test in

Mark 4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, (His Disciples) Let us pass over unto the other side. What was the question dealing with? “Trust” have these men learned anything? Were they ready to put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? Let’s see! They passed the first part of the test without a problem; they got into the ship and left for the other side. All was well until   Mark 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. Sailing was not good now, the ship was filling up with water and they were fighting to keep it afloat. Here is where they missed the answer. They began to look at what was happening at this very moment and forgot about what was said by the Lord before they shoved off. Two things #1 didn’t the Lord Himself say they were going to the other side? He didn’t say there wouldn’t be storms along the way. #2- The Lord Himself was on board and was not worried at all, why He was so sure that the ship was going to the other side that He Himself was fast asleep. So they ran and woke Him up; read what they said “they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? “ He stills the storm and then He says Mark 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? Well, what happened? Mark 5:1  And they came over unto the other side of the sea  Now before we look down on those disciples there are those in the day we live in that don’t believe what the Lord says. So what will be your test today? Will you pass or will you almost pass! The disciples almost passed but instead they let the fear of the storm scare them into thinking they were all going to die. So what’s your storm? As we journey toward heaven there will be many storms we will feel like at times we are about to perish. But stop and see what the master is trying to teach you in the storm for it will help you become stronger in the next storm. You are either today in a storm, come out of a storm or you are headed for a storm just put your trust in the Captain of the storm the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s either Faith or Fear and fear is only false evidence appearing real!