Passing Life's Final Exam

Introduction

Facing your biggest enemy. Sometimes taking a test in school can seem like facing an enemy. Here's is a quick scenario:

Test week. Finals week. Barry and his studying buddy study hard all night the semester's material to make sure they pass the test. They stay up all night til 4am, and the final is at 8am. The snooze button has always helped, and so with confidence, Barry goes to sleep trusting in the time-proven help of his snooze alarm clock. In the morning, he awakens to a the brightest morning he has ever witnessed. The sun seems to be up pretty high so early in the morning and the alarm clock hasn't even gone off yet. That is unusual. However, as we looks at the alarm clock he notices it is past 12pm! ... He has slept trough the final exam  and there is no make up tests! .... 

Barry failed to pass the test ... because he never showed up. He failed to make adequate preparation to showing up on time for the test. He slept through the final exam of his class and there was no "make up" test allowed. How tragic! But how more tragic it would be to go through life and fail to pass "Life's final exam" ... One day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and "Our Final Exam" will be whether we know God, and whether we are known by Him. (Matthew 25:1-11). I once heard a preacher say, "The Only Question asked in the judgement is 'Have you  kept my commandments?". However, someone might give an affirmative "yes" to that question, but have kept the commandments of God (externally) for all of the wrong reasons. NO, Scripture tells us that life's final exam will consist of Whether we know God, and whether God knows us personally. "Do You know Him?", and "Does He know you?" (John 17:3; Matthew 25:12). That is the real question (s) in the judgment according to Jesus.

Enemies that cause us to stumble 

There are several enemies today that keep us from "Knowing God" ... just like there are several enemies that keep us from passing a test at school or work successfully. Here they are:

Procrastination. The fatal word that will doom millions is "tomorrow". I've got tomorrow! I'll do it tomorrow! ... Watch me! ... Tomorrow came and went, and you failed to pass life final exam. 

Lack of Discipline and preparation. Even if you wanted to prepare for life's final exam, you wouldn't know where to start or begin.  Your heart wants to get ready for the test, but there are other things that seem to be more important. You need discipline!

Lack of vision and planning. You realize that in order to pass life's final exam, you need to sit down, "Open the Book", mark your calendar, and plan accordingly to be ready to pass life's FINAL EXAM. 

One last enemy! This one is a surprise ... 

YOU! YOURSELF! YOUR SINFUL FALLEN NATURE!!! That's right! ... YOU! ... You are your worst enemy when it comes to passing LIFE'S FINAL EXAM. More than any other thing in your life, you are your own worst enemy. You see, you are a free moral being with freedom of choice, and the Devil can only make you do things so many times. The excuse, "Oh, the Devil made me do it" is only true part of the time. If we are honest, most of our tragedies and setbacks are caused by poor decisions we have made ourselves. So let's face it! If we are serious about passing "LIFE'S FINAL EXAM", let's start asking God to help us to defeat our greatest enemy: The Carnal Inner Man. 

Here are some key Bible texts to help us in our study and journey:

1 Corinthians 15:31

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Here are a few Ellen G. White Statements too:

ST August 26, 1897, par. 9

Self is our greatest enemy, and day by day each must strive for the victory. 

Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 141.2 (1)

The Christian life is a battle and a march. But the victory to be gained is not won by human power. The field of conflict is the domain of the heart. The battle which we have to fight—the greatestbattle that was ever fought by man—is the surrender of self to the will of God, the yielding of the heart to the sovereignty of love. The old nature, born of blood and of the will of the flesh, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The hereditary tendencies, the former habits, must be given up. 

Gospel Workers 1892, p. 376.2 (1)  

The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, and being clothed with humility, possessing that love that is pure, peaceable, and easy to be entreated, full of gentleness and good fruits, is not an easy attainment.... The soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in knowledge and true holiness.  

 Conclusion

So claim the victory today over your worst enemy. Claim the following promises today in prayer, and Be confident and prepared always to Pass Life's Final Exam ... Eternal Life! 

Promises to Claim today:

1. Claim God's power to die to Self, Sin, and the wiles  (temptations) of Satan in your life. (Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 15:31; Ephesians 6:10-18)

2. Ask God to give You a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit, and to help you live today in the Spirit and not in the flesh (sinful nature).

3. Ask God for wisdom to plan and prepare to Pass Life's Final Exam. (James 1:5)

4. Help others to get ready too by sharing with them the message of Jesus soon coming! (Matthew 28:19-20)

Be Blessed! 

~ Pastor Sal Garcia