What Kind of Test?Jesus is coming. Do you believe that? Probably you do. Do you believe it may be very soon? Hopefully you do. So, what should we all be doing about it?

As youth, we’re always choosing priorities. Suppose at school there’s a test coming next week—in a super-hard subject. Maybe we will have started already studying for it, because it’s a deep subject, and it will take time to really understand the information before being tested on it. But, on the other hand, for an easy test, we might be able to relax and simply plan on starting to focus a little on it the day before.

So back to the first point: How much time is there before Jesus comes—or more importantly, when my probation will close? No human being on earth knows the answer to this question. We should, however, ask ourselves: Is the final judgment of my character one of those easy “just-think-about-it-the-day-before” types of test? Let’s see:

“If we would develop a character which God can accept, we must form correct habits in our religious life. Daily prayer is as essential to growth in grace, and even to spiritual life itself, as is temporal food to physical well-being. We should accustom ourselves to lift the thoughts often to God in prayer. If the mind wanders, we must bring it back; by persevering effort, habit will finally make it easy. We cannot for one moment separate ourselves from Christ with safety. We may have His presence to attend us at every step, but only by observing the conditions which He Himself has laid down.”—Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 2, p. 546.

In reality: “Tomorrow our probation may end and our account be forever fixed.” (Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 668).

So, our Lord and Master gives talents and time to each one of us and says, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13). Right now, we have a chance to follow His example in how He spent His time and what His priorities were. He did not live to amuse and entertain Himself in selfish pleasure but rather, to be about His Father’s business. We, too, have amazing opportunities and privileges to honor Him and bring greater happiness to ourselves if we will only seek them. When we place God first in life, He opens better doors than we ever have imagined possible. The sacrifice of Christ and surrender to His ways bring deeper joy, lasting fulfillment—and ultimately, eternal life. So why not make as our most urgent priority to “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness”? (Colossians 1:10, 11). It’s worth it!