Tests and Grades

Tests and grades are occupying a place of steadily increasing importance in modern life. Passing tests can be of decisive, crucial importance for our future. Good tests and good grades, especially for science and physical performances, are very highly rated. Achievements in wisdom and strength are top targets in today’s life, and excitement about report cards to be received and promotions and graduations expected is very common.

Those who wanted to have the best grades, or those who were afraid of one or more failures, probably have spent most of their free time in preparing themselves for the tests. I know that some of them (or perhaps a lot of them) were so busy with their “tests-grades” that they could not even find the time to attend their catechism class, or failed to go to church. “I had no time to learn my questions”… “I could not find the time to go to catechism class”… “It was impossible for me to attend that church service”… “I have to study today to pass my tests… to acquire good grades,” will have been the answer of some who used even the Lord’s Day to attain their goal, even though their parents opposed such conduct.

How necessary it is, especially in our days in which achievements in science and strength seem to be the most important things, to bring into remembrance some texts out of the Word of God:

Jeremiah 9:23–24, “Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”

Isaiah 56:4–5, “For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.”

There will be one test, at the end of our lives and in the day of judgment, of which the results will be decisive for eternal well or woe. What shall it profit us if we had the best results in all kinds of tests… if we had the highest grades in earthly science, physical performances, or other subjects…and fail to pass the test before God, whose delight was and is in such things as to know Him? What shall it profit us to gain the best grades, but lose our soul?

There will be one test, at the end of our lives and in the day of judgment, of which the results will be decisive for eternal well or woe. What shall it profit us if we had the best results in all kinds of tests… and fail to pass the test before God, whose delight was and is in such things as to know Him?

If the seeking of the Kingdom of God and His righteousness is affected by our seeking to pass tests and acquire good grades — if those institutions given by the Lord in His condescending mercy to supply sinners with such knowledge and strength, in which He has His delight and by which our souls can be saved, become more or less neglected, then we can be sure that, although we might attain our fleshly goals, yet a leanness in our souls, a hardening of our hearts, a missing of God’s blessings, will be the result of it.

Failures of earthly tests sometimes can be corrected afterwards; failing the heavenly test will be without remedy. This is life eternal, to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.

Rev. A Elshout is pastor of the Gereformeerde Gemeente (Netherlands Reformed Congregation) of Scheveningen, the Netherlands.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen