Why does God test us?

                                         Why does God test us?

 When we ask why God tests us or allows us to be tested, we are admitting that testing does indeed come from Him. When God tests His children, He does a valuable thing. David sought God’s testing, asking Him to examine his heart and mind and see that they were true to Him (Psalm 26:2; 139:23). When Abram was tested by God in the matter of sacrificing Isaac, Abram obeyed (Hebrews 11:17–19) and showed to all the world that he is the father of faith (Romans 4:16).

In both the Old and New Testaments, the words translated “test” mean “to prove by trial.” Therefore, when God tests His children, His purpose is to prove that our faith is real. Not that God needs to prove it to Himself since He knows all things, but He is proving to us that our faith is real, that we are truly His children, and that no trial will overcome our faith.

 In His Parable of the Sower, Jesus identifies the ones who fall away as those who receive the seed of God’s Word with joy, but, as soon as a time of testing comes along, they fall away. James says that the testing of our faith develops perseverance, which leads to maturity in our walk with God (James 1:3–4). James goes on to say that testing is a blessing, because, when the testing is over and we have “stood the test,” we will “receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). Testing comes from our heavenly Father who works all things together for good for those who love Him and who are called to be the children of God (Romans 8:28).

 The testing or trials we undergo come in various ways. Becoming a Christian will often require us to move out of our comfort zones and into the unknown. Perseverance in testing results in spiritual maturity and completeness. This is why James wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2). The testing of faith can come in small ways and daily irritations; they may also be severe afflictions (Isaiah 48:10) and attacks from Satan (Job 2:7). Whatever the source of the testing, it is to our benefit to undergo the trials that God allows.

 The account of Job is a perfect example of God’s allowing one of His saints to be tested by the devil. Job bore all his trials patiently and “did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (Job 1:22). However, the account of Job’s testing is proof that Satan’s ability to try us is limited by God’s sovereign control. No demon can test or afflict us with beyond what God has ordained. All our trials work toward God’s perfect purpose and our benefit.

 There are many examples of the positive results of being tested. The psalmist likens our testing to being refined like silver (Psalm 66:10). Peter speaks of our faith as “of greater worth than gold,” and that’s why we “suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (1 Peter 1:6–7). In testing our faith, God causes us to grow into strong disciples who truly live by faith and not by what we see (2 Corinthians 5:7).

 When we experience the storms of life, we should be like the tree that digs its roots ever more deeply for a greater grip in the earth. We must “dig our roots” more deeply into God’s Word and cling to His promises so we can weather whatever storms come against us.

 Most comforting of all, we know that God will never allow us to be tested beyond what we are able to handle by His power. His grace is sufficient for us, and His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). “That is why,” Paul said, “for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  

Hevaven or Hell , Which way people will go?

 Which will more people go to, heaven or hell?

ANSWER

 

The question of whether there are more people, heaven or hell, is given a concise context by Jesus himself: “Enter in at the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and easy is the way that leads to destruction; and "There are many who enter in. For narrow is the gate and hard is the way that leads to life; and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).

 

Only those who have received Jesus Christ and believe in Him have been given the right to become children of God (John 1:12). This is because the gift of eternal life comes through Jesus Christ only to those who believe in Him. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). This is not possible through Muhammad, Buddha or other man-made false gods. It is not for those who want an easy way to heaven, while also continuing to live an earthly life on earth. Jesus only saves those who trust in Him as Savior (Acts 4:12).

 

Therefore, now what are the two doors given in Matthew 7:13-14. These are gateways to two different "passages". The wide gate leads to a wide passage. The narrow gate leads to a path that is narrow. The narrow gate is the path of the righteous, and the wide path is the path of the unrighteous. The broad path is the easy path. It promotes charm and self-indulgence. This is a permitted route. This is the inclusive path to a world built with few rules, few restrictions and fewer conditions. Sin is encouraged to be tolerated and God's Word is not studied and its standards are not followed. Such a path requires no spiritual maturity, no moral character, no commitment, and no sacrifice. It is easy to walk on this path because “For once you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the authority of the air, that is, the Spirit who now works in those who are disobedient” (Ephesians 2:2). This is the broad path that “seems right to a man, but it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12).

 

Those who preach this inclusive gospel, in which “all roads lead away from heaven,” are preaching a completely different gospel than the gospel preached by Jesus Christ. The wide gate of the world of self-centeredness, self-absorption and pride, a holier-than-thou mentality, is the road that leads to hell, not the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. Most people largely follow the crowd, walking down the same path, the broad path, and doing what everyone else is doing and believing what everyone else is. We do.

 

The narrow path is a difficult path, it is a path based on conditions. This is the path of recognizing that you cannot save yourself and that you must rely solely on Jesus Christ to save you. This is the path of self-denial and the way of the cross. The fact that some people know God's way means that it must be sought with great diligence. “You will seek me and find me, for you will come to me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). The point is that no one will stumble into heaven or fall through the narrow gate. Someone asked Jesus, "Lord, are there few who will be saved?" He said to them, “Strive to enter in at the narrow gate: for I say unto you that many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:23-24).

 

Many would like to try to enter in through the narrow gate, which is the door of salvation, but “will not be able.” Because they are unwilling to believe in Jesus alone. They are reluctant to pay the price. To leave the world is to suffer a great loss for them. The way of Christ is the way of the cross, and the way of Christ is self-denial. Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for Me He will save him” (Luke 9:23-24).

 

Jesus knew that many would choose the wide gate and the wide path, which leads to destruction and hell. That's why, in comparison, he said that there are only a few who will choose Saket Fatak. According to Matthew 7:13-14, there is no doubt that more will go to hell than to heaven. Then the question for you is, which path are you on?