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My Soul and Tests
(Ps26:2; Mk14:38)

God is the God of glory.
From Him and to Him is glory (Rm11:36).
He tests the righteous and rewards according to their conduct and deeds (Jer17:10, 20:12), and
He lets those in crowns of glory enter the holy city (Rev21:24).
 
Faith is believing that my soul is justified by faith (Rm3:28) and
The life of this faith is, in order to enter the holy city after death, watching and praying to overcome temptations (Mk14:38).
 
While no one likes tests we must pass because this universe, Hades, is a testing ground as
The devil tests man, God tests man, and man tests God (Ex17:7).
Since even in the beautiful Garden of Eden
There were the devil, the serpent, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
Adam was tempted by the devil and sinned by eating the forbidden fruit (Ge3:4-6).
Consequently, all mankind became slaves of the devil and hell-bound (Mt25:41).
 
God tested Abraham to bless him by instructing him to give his only son as a burnt offering.
Since he feared God and did accordingly, he received great blessings of
The increase of his seed and taking possession of the cities of their enemies (Ge22:1-17; He11:17).
 
The Israelites were delivered from Egypt by grace and became the people of Jehovah.
The wilderness where they arrived was a vast testing ground, and
The fact that they were fed manna from heaven for 40 years there was
To humble and test them so that the LORD might bless them (Ex16:4; Dt8:16).
 
The Law was given also to test them so that the fear of the LORD would be with them
To keep them from sinning (Ex20:20).
Furthermore, the sanctuary where the name of Jehovah was reminded them of this (Dt8:2).
However, the stiff-necked people tested Jehovah 10 times and
All but two died in the wilderness for they did not obey His word and
Thus did not enter the land that He had sworn to their ancestors (Nu14:22-23).
 
Even the generations who entered Canaan and had not had previous battle experience were
Put to the test by fighting against the tribes left there (Jdg2:22, 3:2-4)
For no life is completely free from tests.
 
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
Jehovah—tested His people Israel—>the land of Canaan;
Yeshua—test the souls who believe and became righteous—>the Holy City—>the heirs of God.
 
As such, even though He is the Son of God, He was tempted by the devil (Mt4:1-7)
For He entered Hades as man.
Furthermore, although the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees tried to test and accuse Him
By using the law as an opportunity
Yeshua responded with the word of truth (Jn8:4-7; Mk10:2-9, 12:13-17).
He instructed the disciples who stood by Him in His trials (Lk22:28)
To pray to not fall into temptation until His kingdom comes (Lk22:40, 46).
 
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1)    Died according to the commandment and completed all tests, and committed His soul to the Father (Lk23:46; Jn10:18);
2)    Judged the temper the devil (Ge3:4-6; Mt4:3); and
3)    Died—all mankind—redeemed—delivered
      His blood—justify believers—the children of God—tested—>the heirs of God (Rm8:17).
 
He resurrected and ascended to heaven, and He is a tested stone (Is28:16),
The Lamb on the throne with the marks of honor He earned by passing the test (Rev5:9).
 
The Holy Spirit is able to help those being tempted (He2:18), that is, those who became
Righteous by the blood of Yeshua (Rm5:9), the souls who have become God’s children.
The Christian is he who is ready to persevere any test by the blood of Yeshua (Jas1:12), thus he:
1)    Eliminates any condition that allows the devil to tempt, such as lack of self-control, greed etc (1Co7:5; Jas1:14; 1Ti6:9; 1Jn2:15-16);
2)    Even in fiery trials, does not blame the Lord (Nu21:5-6; 1Co3:13, 10:9; 1Pe1:7); and
3)    Watches and prays—like a watchman, stays awake and alert—so not to be deceived by the devil’s schemes (Mt4:3-10)—such as financial worries, misplaced trust, pride and leaving one's proper position—immediately shaking off wicked thoughts, feelings, words, and actions.
 
O Lord,
My soul!
Let me never forget that I am in this fiery testing ground.
By always staying awake and praying, let us overcome temptations and tests
So on the day You return, we may all leave this burning universe and
In crowns of pure gold enter the Holy City!  Amen.