God's 'Test' Is Our Invitation To Repent

Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart. [Proverbs 17.3]

Does God test us? Does He test our faith?

I know conventional religious thinking answers affirmative to the questions above. However, conventional religious thinking may not be right!

Here is my point. If God tests us, it means He does not know what is in us. If He (the Creator) does not know what is in us, then is He really the Creator? Is He really all-knowing if He has to test us to see what we are made of?

You see, conventional religious thinking needs to be questioned! If we all just look at Proverbs 17.3 without keeping in mind Who and What God IS, then we will be prone to foolish assumptions about God!

There is no need to test gold for impurities if you know it is pure. However, if you know there are impurities, then the fire must be applied to remove the undesirable content. 

Does it matter whether the gold thinks it is pure or impure? NO!

God knows all. He does not have to test us to see what is in us. He didn't have to ask Adam and Eve where they were in the Garden of Eden when they sinned. God's "tests" and "questions" are for us! God already knows there are impurities when He allows or applies the 'heat' of suffering or punishment to our lives. And, because He knows there are impurities, when we experience His 'heat' our first response should be repentance.

There it is. We may say "God is testing me" but, in reality, the fires of testing are God's way of inviting us to repent (He already knows the junk is in there - whether we do or not)!

Father, I am grateful that I can rest in the fact that You know everything about me. I am grateful that I do not have to wonder whether or not You will bless me or curse me today. I am grateful that Your correction is my invitation to repent. I am grateful that I can trust Your character.