Pastor's Corner

EOG AND EOL TESTING

Keith E. Murray, Pastor, Blanch Baptist Church

[This article was originally published in the Caswell Messenger on May 29th, 2024.]

“EOGs”: End of Grade testing.  We see it this time of year on the local schools’ announcement boards.  We didn’t have EOGs when I was in my elementary through high school years (just after the age of dinosaurs….) but “that was then—this is now.”  EOGs may be an asset to administrators seeking confirmation of their schools’ effectiveness, but they can be vexing to others; especially anxious students, teachers, and parents.

This is not an article to discuss the merits or drawbacks of EOGs (though I’m awfully glad I didn’t have to go through them “back in the day”….)   EOG testing is simply an illustration, leading me to the theme of spiritual preparedness for what I call “EOL”: End of LIFE testing.  I DO have to go through THAT someday—and so, too, do YOU!

Two Sundays ago, I began a series of sermons in our church titled “Ten Tests from First John”, dealing with “tests” to help us determine the health of—or even existence of (!)—a person’s own Christian faith.  I began the first two sermons, and plan to do so with the other eight, with two passages of Scripture:

1. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  ~ I John 5:11-13 (King James Version)

2. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?  ~ II Corinthians 13:5 (New International Version)

The first speaks of assurance, and the second speaks of the testing.  Am I—are YOU—truly a Christian?

While space does not permit an in-depth look at a subject which has filled hundreds of theological books, let me offer seven points—A-B-C-D-E-F-G—which briefly highlight the “proofs” confirming a person’s salvation and continued walk with Christ.  (I will leave it up to you, the reader, to check out the Bible passages given.) Please note that the following are not by our own efforts or works—they are all achieved by Grace, through faith! (Ephesians 2:8-10).  

1. Admit you are a sinner—you have fallen far short of a Holy God’s ideal. (In fact, if you do not accept that you are a sinner, you have a double-dose of the worst sin: pride!  Plus, you are lying to yourself and God, and even calling Him a liar!  (Romans 3:23; I John 1:7-8,10) 

2. Believe His promises, by faith—especially His promise that He loves you infinitely and thus will forgive you your sins (John 3:16; etc.)—as you are willing to…

3. Confess—honestly and specifically—your sins (as well as your fears, joys, etc.) to God. (I John 1:9)

4. Defect!  (What?)  To defect means to come over to the other side.  Leave the kingdom of the world, the flesh, and the devil to come over to the Kingdom of Light—the Kingdom of God.  He has already done that for his own people (Colossians 1:13), so we should affirm it ourselves! (I John 2:15-17)

5. Evangelize.  (Psalm 51:12-14; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8) Put it this way: If you discovered the cure for cancer, it would be criminal to keep the answer all to yourself!  Christians believe that trusting in Jesus Christ is “the cure” for an even more deadly and eternal “disease”—SIN!

6. Follow Christ. (“Obey” could also be the heading, but it doesn’t begin with “F”.)  Salvation is not just a one-time event, after which we can simply “do our own thing”! (Romans 6:1-2) If we truly love our Savior, we seek to follow him. (John 10:27 and 14:15)

7. Grow.  (II Peter 3:18) In the physical / medical realm, how sad it is if a person, due to disease or genetic condition, fails to grow!  So, too, in the Spiritual realm. 

It is a discouragement to fail the EOGs, and be “held back”.  But that misfortune pales in comparison to the tragedy of “failing” the EOL ”: End of LIFE testing, and thus facing eternal separation from God!  I implore you, dear reader, take time to study, consider, and apply II Corinthians 13:5 in the light of A-G, above.  The time is short—EOLs are coming!