When Jesus was in the desert and had not eaten for 40 days, Satan tempted him in many ways. One was to throw himself down a cliff, as God would send His angels down to save him. In response, Jesus said to never test the Lord your God. Is it wrong for people to say, "If God does this or gives this to me, I'll believe He's real," even if he/she becomes a Christian?
This is a thought-provoking question. The passage you're talking about is found in Matthew 4:1-11 (also in Luke 4). Here Jesus is tempted three times. The second temptation is when Jesus replies with Deuteronomy 6:16, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."
How should we interpret what Jesus is saying here? To answer this question, first, let's read the passage Jesus uses to counter Satan: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, tas you tested him at Massah." During the exodus (see Exodus 17:1-17), we learn that the Israelites lacked water and thought they would die of thirst. Rather than trusting God in this trial they tested Him by complaining and quarreling. So when Jesus quotes Deut. 6:16, what he's doing is applying the verse to himself MEANING He refuses to play Satan's game of forcing God to work a miracle on his behalf. In the same manner, we also test God when we try to force him to do something contradictory to His Will, or when we try to push God into doing something WE WANT rather than what HE wants. It's almost as if we are trying to ask God to "prove himself" to us, when he does need or want to do such a thing.
Now, it is true there are passages like Malachi 3:10 that tell us that God can be put to the test:
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test,says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
But if you understand the context of this passage, it is actually addressing us, the reader. When we surrender everything we are and everything we have to God (i.e. when we have brought a "full tithe" to God), then we will receive such a blessing that we do not need to put God to any test! The real issue is one of humility. If you are surrounded by trials; in desperate circumstances and in utter humility, and you cry out to God, asking him for a sign to show that He is real (i.e. his presence is with you), then I believe God will answer this prayer because He is gives "grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5). But if you're selfishly telling God to prove himself to you OR ELSE you won't believe in Him, then you're being prideful and arrogant, and God will not answer that prayer. In fact, Scripture tells us he will oppose the proud (1 Peter 5:5).
That being said, I do believe there are instances when God - in his infinite love and grace - gives non-believers signs. Sometimes these signs could be the one they ask for. Sometimes they are signs they did not ask for. But they are so unmistakably powerful that one can only attribute them to God, and thus turn to Him in belief and repentance. I suppose the thing to keep in mind is that God is bigger and more powerful than any challenge you can throw at him, so throw away. Just know that He is sovereign and He will answer or not answer according to His will, not ours.
Hope this helps.
[Answered by Pastor HM]
