The Pop Quiz

Pastor Randy Corbin, Transitional Lead Pastor

I don’t know about you but whenever a teacher began a class with a pop quiz, I usually felt like someone just put a gun in my back, threatening my academic security.

The pop quiz ambushes the student to determine how ready he is in a particular discipline.  Has he mastered the skill or comprehended the material?

As we have all discovered, life is full of pop quizzes.  Our car dies on the interstate, a family member crosses us, a merchant takes advantage of us, or a careless driver plows into the back of us.  We never know when they come, but each one reveals our character growth – whether we have mastered patience, grace, self-control, humility, trust, or flexibility to name a few.

The scripture says that while man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart, declaring that only God can see the heart.  While that is certainly true, there are times when the shades of our lives fly up and our hearts are clearly revealed.  Like you, I have faced pop quizzes that shot the blinds of my life right up, revealing the true character within:  patience or impatience, faith or fear, peace or panic, forbearance or retaliation.  Sometimes I celebrated and other times I ran for cover out of shame.

I expect that all of us will face some pop quizzes during the coming days and weeks – those sudden tests that will show the true mettle within.  It may come on the highway, in the classroom, at the dinner table, or in the work place, or maybe even in church.  It may arise from a clerk, a customer service person, a family member, or another believer.

When they come, let’s hear the words, “This is a test.”  The shades of our character will go up and what is really within us will be revealed.

“Lord, help me and my brothers and sisters to be able to reveal that we have passed the test:  grace, calm, faith, love, forgiveness – for God’s glory!