(This is the second part of a five part summer sermon series on the Book of James, preached on 7/8/12 at Epworth Chapel, Baltimore)
James 1:12-15
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12)
The word is out that during the terrorist attacks in 2001 – now known as “9-11”, there was a glaring failure in the emergency response of our nation. The Emergency Broadcast System, which was designed to provide an early warning to citizens in the event of disasters such as those experienced by our nation, was supposed to sound alarms warning us of the imminent danger in our midst.
I can remember growing up, and whatever was on the television being intermittently interrupted with the sound of an alarm across the airwaves, followed by the words, "This is a test, it's only a test. This has been a test of the Emergency Broadcast System."
It was only a test, but it was a test that was designed to remind us that danger was always a possibility. It was a test that was meant to prepare us in the event that real trouble and disaster was in the midst. But it was only a test.
All of us will be tested in life. Some have described life as a series of tests. Once you've overcome one test - one obstacle - one adversary - one stumbling block – one roadblock - one disappointment … there always seems to be another test that awaits us.
I'm reminded of the great cellist Pablo Casals. One day someone encountered Casals practicing, and said to him, "Mr. Casal, you're 95 years old, and you're considered by many to be the greatest cellist in history. Why are you still practicing six hours a day?” Pablo Casal replied, "Because I think I'm making progress."
Regardless of how long we live and what we achieve, we will be tested.
James, the apostle, knew that Christians in the early church were being tested. There were many questions surrounding their new faith in Christ. How were they supposed to handle the testing of their faith? How were they supposed to answer all the questions and rumors that were swirling that they were just a misguided cult following the teachings of a now dead itinerant preacher? How were they supposed to stand firm and be confident amidst the doubters and skeptics and haters in their midst?
James writes this letter to encourage new Christians. Earlier in the first chapter he had encouraged the people by saying, "Count it all joy when you face tests of many kinds, because the testing of your faith develops perseverance." And here in the 12th verse James says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
There are some things that we need to realize about the tests of our faith. What are some of the things we need to know about the tests of our faith?
First, we must realize that tests of our faith are inevitable. All of us will be tested. It's not a matter of "if" we will be tested…It's just a matter of when the tests will come. But we need to realize that none of us have ever gone through anything that somebody else has not already experienced.
Second, we need to realize that God allows the testing of our faith. God's permissive will which operates within the context of God’s perfect freedom, allows our faith to be tested form time-to-time. We remember the story of Job. God allowed Satan to test Job. Even Jesus was tested. After Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, we recalled that God allowed the Lord to be tried, tempted and tested. Satan met Jesus in the wilderness and tested the Lord, not one time…not two times…but three times. We need to know that the sin is not in being tested and tempted… the sin is in our yielding to temptation. The song says, "Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin…
Thirdly, tests can always make us stronger. James encouraged the saints in the early church when he said, "the testing of your faith produces endurance." I've come to discover that we never come out of a test weaker than we were than when we went into the test. We're made stronger. God allows tests to help us realize that it is God who brings us through.
The good news today is that whatever you're going through, "It's just a test." Whatever your may go through – trouble at home … trouble on your job … trouble at school … sickness and pain in your body – whatever it is … "It's just a test."
The psalmist had it right when he declared that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning! It’s just a test.
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