The Test of Faith

 

Journaling and Faith — The Test of Belief

Why do people journal? To clear their thoughts and stay aware of life’s realities, right?

So why do I blog? It begins with my reality in light of Christ’s sacrifice — the very act that allows me to cry, “Abba, Father.” The same holds true for every born-again believer.

The cares of this life are too many to number. They constantly fight for our attention, trying to pull us away from what truly matters: God’s will for our lives and the call to pass the test along the way. Every great man or woman of God faced tests that defied human reasoning.

Abraham was told to leave everything and go to a place he didn’t know. Later, he was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Sarah was promised a child long after her natural ability had ended. She laughed at first, but when we look closer — she believed.
Samson, Gideon, Barak, Rahab the harlot, Jacob blessing Joseph’s sons — all faced their tests.
But the greatest of all was our Lord Jesus, who laid down His life in faith, trusting His Father. When the weight of it all pressed down, He cried out:

“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” — “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Haven’t we all, in some way, felt forsaken?
I understand that actions have consequences — every action has a reaction. Science teaches this: what goes up must come down. Unless, of course, it’s a balloon filled with helium, which defies gravity.
Faith is like that — it rises above the natural. But how can we understand its power unless we’re tested in it? Faith is not blind; it has reference points — the Word of God. NEVER FORGET THIS.

The Tests of Faith

Tests come in many forms.
Maybe we’re in a room where Christ is mentioned — do we speak up or stay silent?
Maybe we’re jobless again — do we panic, or do we apply the truth of Scripture?
It’s easier said than done. When pressure mounts, the test is real. Whether we landed there through our own mistakes or by God’s design, having said that, we know that God is Sovereign; the goal remains the same — pass the test.

To qualify in anything, we must pass the exam. Faith is no different.

So, what’s our yardstick to measure our commitment to God and our walk of faith?
The Bible — and everything written in it.
Not half-baked prophecies that can’t be backed by Scripture. “I have a word for you” has become a popular phrase, but Scripture is the final authority on all things.
This must be our foundation. Only then can we wrestle with deeper truths.

I’ve always admired Charles Spurgeon’s approach to Scripture — he placed the Word above all, even the greats of old. “I am a Calvinist, and a lover of that grand man’s memory and doctrine; but I believe nothing merely because Calvin taught it, but because I have found his teaching in the Word of God.” — C. H. Spurgeon. (Often cited from Sermon #2584 / published collections.) We can all get things wrong, but the fewer errors we make, the more we honour Scripture’s rightful place.

An Example: The Nephilim

Before the Flood, the Bible records a mysterious group called the Nephilim.
Some struggle to believe they existed, but we believe because God’s Word says so. Even if we don’t fully understand, we still believe.

Genesis 6:1–4

“When men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born unto them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose... There were Nephilim in those days—and also afterwards—when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men of old, men of renown.”

Numbers 13:33

“We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

These are the only two biblical references to the Nephilim.

Meaning:
In Hebrew, Nephilim (נְפִלִים) comes from naphal (נָפַל) — “to fall.” It literally means fallen ones.
My conclusion: fallen angels — though the text itself never directly says so. The “sons of God” in Genesis likely refer to angelic beings, which explains the centuries-long debate among scholars.

What we know for sure:

1.    They existed before the Flood — and perhaps after.

2.   They were linked to “sons of God” and “daughters of men.”

3.   They were mighty men of renown.
Everything beyond that is interpretation.

The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament, 3rd century BCE) translates Nephilim as gigantes — “giants,” though in Greek this also meant “earth-born.”
The Book of Enoch, a non-canonical text, teaches that these were the offspring of fallen angels and human women. (I reached this conclusion without Enoch’s help.)
Historical texts can add context, but they do not supersede Scripture.

There is no archaeological evidence for giant beings or angel–human hybrids.
Factually, we can say only this:

• Nephilim = “fallen ones.”
• Mentioned in Genesis 6:4 and Numbers 13:33 only.
• Described as mighty men of old, men of renown.
• Identity uncertain — either divine–human offspring or powerful ancient rulers.
• No physical evidence exists.

The key point? We believe Scripture first — even when understanding lags. This guards us from deception. The Bible warns that in the last days, some will depart from the faith, following deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

This is your warning: hold to Scripture as the final authority.

The Real Test

Now, back to faith.
We will be tested — we must be tested — or we’ll never know the depth of our faith.

Let me be personal. I am once again jobless. The worry of tomorrow tries to consume me, yet I know I am commanded not to worry.
So I searched the Word:

Matthew 6:34 — “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

The context? Material provision.
The test? Whether I’ll trust God to provide as He promised — or take matters into my own hands.

People often mean well when offering advice, but this is my test, my moment of faith.
And how will I fare?

 

Signing off,

Tyrone