Template Of The Proving Ground

To all of my siblings in Christ who live without fear in the service of the King.

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Romans 8:17

This book is aimed to encourage people toward genuine Christian leadership in the lives that they have been given by God.  It is not about how to lead brick and mortar empires, how to pastor a church nor will I provide insights on playing earthly religion.  It’s a book about true Christian leadership and in the end you will discover that the ultimate example of such is offered, put on display and evidenced in and through the actual incarnate life of the Lord and Savior.  

I contend that human existence is nothing short of a proving ground; a place for every individual to prove what and who they love and care about the most in the time that they have been given.  In this contention I suggest that all choices could probably be simmered down and filed into two general categories – those who choose love and promote themselves and those who choose to love the living God, which will always equate to them choosing to place others above themselves along the way.

Relative to God so loving the world that He gave us His only human Son to take on flesh, live, grow, teach truth, suffer, love, die and resurrect, I suggest that His very life might serve as a type for all of those who seek to love God over self.  I also contend that this template, generally speaking, accomplished some wonderful unconditional gifts God bestows upon and uncaring and indifferent world.  This book is not so much about the latter.  Instead, its about the very template every single pursuer of God in spirit and truth will, whether purposefully or accidentally, discover as occurring over the course of their lives.

Throughout these next fourteen chapters I will use Yeshua’s very life as the template, and some of the major events therefrom, as a vehicle for seekers to consider having application to their own Christian lives.  I will take the liberty to include elements from my own walk at times to help illustrate the universality of the process God will often bring His true sons and daughters through as a means to prove them, test them and to see where their love and devotions lie.  The notion of God proving or trying His creations (which truly confronts the Reformed lies of God predestining every single thing a person does) is addressed all through the scripture.  Because we appeal to the scripture in all things here are some of the supports for this notion.  First consider eight passages from the Old Testament:

2^nd Chronicles 32:31 Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. 

Psalm 11:4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

Jeremiah 6:27 I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.

Jeremiah 9:7 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?

Jeremiah 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Now consider these nine passages from the Apostolic Record:

John 6:6 And this he (Jesus) said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1^st Corinthians 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  

2^nd Corinthians 8:8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

 2^nd Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Galatians 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

1^st Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

1^st Peter 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Central to God proving His children is the idea that the tests and trials God allows in our lives serve to both “purify us” ¹ and to help us ultimately “produce even more fruit.” ² I personally maintain that these purifications are primarily aimed at individuals, and not groups or the collective, and that they are not so much focused on physical purifications (though such may be included) but serve to purify the soul (mind, will and emotions) of all who allow Him in. I further maintain that in the face of biblical fulfillment, where God through Christ has literally overcome all things and reconciled the world to Himself, that the single most universally pertinent passage in all of scripture today, whether speaking to those who walk by faith or not, comes from Paul when he penned:

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.   Galatians 6:7 

I happen to also believe due to scripture that the afterlife will not be a disappointment to those who have no care for God here.  Yeshua has paid for sin, the price of which is death, and it seems that most people who God has given life will simply carry on into the eternities without Him and will probably not care one way or another.  That said, however, there does seem to be some potential disappointment waiting for those who have cared or have received Him by faith in this life which may be meted out in and through the resurrected bodies God will bestow on all.  For this reason it may just be that those who say, “Lord, Lord,” will not realize all God seeks to bestow on them if they refused to submit to His hand upon them here.  

It’s a conjecture, but there appears to be some scriptural precedence to consider it.

This book, however, is dedicated to those believers, those seekers of God in spirit and truth, that have allowed the template of Christ to guide them.  And while the road is not lined with ease or reward, it is offered all seekers, all believers, all the time, in and through the spirit.  It is this very template that we will now consider.

1. Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. ↩
2. John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ↩