If you are in any way connected with Bunbury School, then you will know all about the importance of tests like SATSand you certainly cannot fail to be aware that the school has recently undergone its second OFSTED inspection. By the time you read this, the Inspectors' report will have been delivered, read and discussed and we will all know how well our school has performed. In fact the report will probably have been filed away while the teachers and pupils gear up for the next TEST
What is all this about?
It is not only in school that we have to gear ourselves up for tests. They present themselves to us in various forms all the way through life, and not the least important are tests of our faith.
There are many biblical examples of such tests, the most obvious being Abraham's test of obedience when asked by God to sacrifice his much loved son, Isaac. On the very point of his making the sacrifice God stops Abraham, who has proven his submission to God's will.
In the New Testament the faith of the disciples is tested when
Jesus asks them who they think he is.
"You are the Messiah!" Peter boldly states, as he passes the test with flying colours.
Through two millennia of persecution, Christians have been tested for holding on to this belief so clearly stated by Peter, who himself died for it. Even today, Christians are persecuted and killed for the faith they hold, showing themselves able to pass this ultimate test of commitment to Christ.
But what does this all mean for us, in civilised 21st century Britain? No one is likely to persecute us for our faith. We can go to church on a Sunday to worship with like minded people without living in fear of our lives. Fortunately for us, we live in a time when a test of such magnitude is unlikely to face us, a life or death test of our faith. It is probably just as well that it is unlikely to face us, for how many of us could be confident of passing?
I myself fail much simpler tests than that on a daily basis. So, I fear do we all. The challenges to our faith that we fail to pick up. The failure to declare our faith when we should. The failure to defend our faith when it is challenged by others. The preference to find the line of least resistance rather than rock the boat by proselytising too loudly or too forcefully to go with the flow rather than challenge people.
When Jesus comes again, we will face the toughest test of all. I for one have work to do to get ready for that ultimate test.
What about you?
T.P.C
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