Good Monday morning (5-02-11),

In all my days, I can’t remember someone coming up, out of the clear blue, and asking me to tell them my Christian testimony. I’ve shared it, unsolicited, over the years, but never to anyone who was curious enough to ask about it on their own. But recently, someone did do just that.

This man didn’t know me from the next guy, but knowing I was a Christian, he realized I had a story to tell, and he wanted to hear it. He knew since Jesus was involved, it had to be good. What was my life like before and after my conversion? How is it that I came to receive the Holy Spirit? When did I learn to forgive those who wronged me?

As I typed out my reply, I thought, “This is a neat exercise, writing out the greatest thing I’ve ever experienced. I really need to write this out for my children and grandchildren, after all, my salvation is part of their heritage. Isn’t it the most important and dramatic thing that could ever happen to anyone?”

But then that thought comes to me, “Except for this complete stranger, who else is really all that interested in my testimony. It’s just another story among so many.”

Testimony.

I’m not a great speller; there’s like over a 100,000 English words to remember. So the way I best remember to spell testimony is to put the “i” after the word “test.” Testimony. Get it? I’m tested, and when I’m tested, and I endure, I have a testimony. Well, anyhow, it helps me remember.

Since I’m born-again, I do have a story to tell.

Because I’m born-again, my story should interest you, and yours should interest me.

If I’m not involved with God things, neither story will seem interesting to me.

When life’s a little overwhelming, take some time to remember the most important thing that ever happened to you, the day you became a child of God. This is the beginning point of your testimony, when you made the most important decision of your existence, to accept the call to follow Christ. Relive your baptisms, and recall your first love, that experience which thawed your heart and showed on your face.

That first day, I was tested by the devil to reject my confession of faith. I overcame by remaining true to what was revealed to me.

The second day, the heat of tribulation came, but because I was rooted and grounded in the love of God, I overcame and remain true.

The third day, the cares and concerns of this life conspired to crowd out the fruitfulness of God’s Word, but I have overcome by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of my testimony, and because I love not my life unto death.

Our testimony is not just what happened the moment we believed and confessed Christ. In Heaven and on earth it’s being journalized everyday. It’s being lived out in front of our families, our neighbors, and co-workers. The whole world is paying attention as we Christians live and work among others; they watch us, more than we like to think.

I remember something that happened to me some years back. A co-worker told me that it was obvious to her that I didn’t much enjoy life. “Why would you say that,” I asked. She replied, “Because, you always seem so unhappy.”

Oh, that nail in my forehead was painful! In my mind I was one of the darlings of Christianity, but in reality, my joy had slipped away, replaced by moral exercises: Bible reading, fasting, and sobriety. The Pharisee in me had evaporated away my love for people.

Oh, by the way, I remember how to spell “Pharisee” because the “i” is what people “see” in me. Get it? A Pharisee.

Like a Pharisee, I had forgotten that wonderful first love, my testimony was a distant memory. What a dreadful place to be, a captive slave to bitterness, that cruel and ruthless taskmaster!

Recalling, everyday, our own glorious salvation is enough to keep a smile on our face, even when life and people do stink. You know what else? Listening to another’s testimony does more that put a smile on their face, it builds your faith, and it builds the faith of the one telling the story.

There’s power in our witness; there’s power in living it, but also, there’s power in asking others to share their testimony. It indicates that we care, it builds faith, it trains us to listen, and most importantly, it shatters the confidence of the devil every time we remember again the good works of God.

Pay attention to this everyday, because soon the faithful are to be crowned. Our victories will be celebrated, somehow displayed before the Heavenly host. Defeats erased, our accomplishments will be known by all. Together our testimonies will constitute one immense, timeless library, read throughout the ages, forever bearing witness to the goodness and mercy and wisdom of our Glorious God.

Consider taking a moment and ask someone to share their story, how and when they were saved. It’ll probably make their day that someone cared enough to ask, and it will strengthen your faith too.

Consider writing down how and when you were saved, what your baptisms in water and the Holy Spirit were like, what your favorite scriptures are, and when you received the strength to forgive others. Your family and friends will be glad you did.

Perhaps you’d be interested in sending what you’ve written our way; we’d be interested too!

Wayne Witcher

…Through the Church the manifold wisdom of God is being made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Ephesians 3:10.