Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

— 2 Corinthians 13:5

I’ve seen so many people, dear friends, family members, people I love and admire who’ve thought that just because they were good, they were acceptable in God’s sight.

Just because they’ve been baptized for the remission of sins, they were good in God’s sight.

Just because they go to church every time the church assembles, they were good in God’s sight.

The golden ticket has been stamped. Heaven awaits.

Sorry.

Nothing in God’s word tells me that.

We are in a spiritual war every minute of every day.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

— Ephesians 6:10-12

So what do we do every day to examine ourselves? Make a checklist? Watch everything we do, see, hear, read? Be afraid?

I think we should go to God, who wrote the Bible and gives us the simple solutions for examining our lives every day as we strive to be pleasing to Him.

He tells us what to think about…..specifically. And if the things that come into your life, the temptations we have, the weaknesses that sometimes overwhelm our flesh, we can put them all to this test:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

— Philippians 4:8

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and he shall bring it to pass.

— Psalm 37:5

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

— John 14:1-3

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

— I Thessalonians 5:22

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

— 2 Corinthians 2:11

In your patience possess ye your souls.

— Luke 21:19

Be patient. Be ready. Watch.

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight; or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning. Lest coming suddenly he find you asleep. And what I say unto you I say unto all: Watch.

— Mark 13:31-37

Don’t know who wrote it to give credit to, but it speaks volumes:

No matter what else you are doing
From cradle days thru to the end

You are writing your life’s secret story
Each day sees another page penned.

Each month writes a 30 page chapter
Each year sees the end of a part

And never an act is misstated
Or even one wish of the heart

Each day when you wake the book opens
Revealing a page clean and white

What thoughts and what words and what actions
Will cover its pages by night?

God leaves that to you, you’re the writer
And never a page will grow dim

Until the day you write the word finished
And give back your lifes book to Him!

Every day ask yourself…

Who are you?

What are you?

When are you?

Where are you?

Why are you?

How are you?

Examine yourselves.

Truly, God’s forgotten commandment!