The ultimate test in life

Some parts of serving Hashem come to us easily, and some parts we quietly know we're avoiding. After the Akeidah the angel says, "Now I know that you fear Hashem." Now? Avraham had already left his home, been thrown into the fire and welcomed every guest. The Netziv compares him to a man close to the king who is told to harm his son, and asks what is different here. A second approach asks what made this one test unlike all the others Avraham had passed.