Beauty in a Testimony

Scripture is full of pictures: masterpiece portraits, as a matter of fact, of real live, flesh and blood people who encountered the living God, whether they meant to or not.  Ever the teacher, God doesn't just tell, He shows.

Beth Moore

This morning, I was sitting in a bible study with some incredibly Godly women at Wildwood Community Church in Norman when the topic of testimonies came up. Since I love to talk so much, testimonies happen to be one of my favorite topics. I love getting to talk about what God has done and what He continues to do in my life.  Naturally, this made me want to blog about it.

I consistently hear from people that “Oh, I wish I had a more dramatic testimony,” or even, “I don’t really have a testimony, I was saved at a young age.”

My first thought at statements like this is “How wonderful!” From someone who didn’t grow up going to church every Sunday or going to VBS every summer, that seems like a pretty fantastic testimony.  I can even let my self get a little envious of people like this, but then I’m reminded by a simple truth:

It takes the same amount of grace, the same death on a cross to save a 6 year old from their sins as it did to save me from mine as a 16 year old high school student, as it does the 32 year old drug addict, as it does to save the 85 year old grandmother.  

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

Hebrews 10:10

You see, all sin is created equal when comparing it to the Holy God.

I have an illustration for this, and it might seem really silly, but I’m going to share it anyway...

In high school, I played basketball. It would be a very far stretch for someone to say I had any talent.  I mostly played because I loved the game, and any talent I might have had was kind of cancelled out by 2 knee surgeries and these 2 awesomely large black knee braces that I got to wear for most of my career.  Regardless, I loved it- and we won state. 

My best friend for most of my life has been Kaylee Wilkins.  In the state championship game, I scored 2 points.  She was named State Tournament MVP.  Obviously, there was a large gap in our abilities.  

During practice, we played a lot of one-on-one.  I laugh at the mental picture of ME trying to go against KAYLEE. Crazy- like I ever stood a chance.  To an outsider just watching practice, it could not have been more obvious that Kaylee was far more talented.


Now, put us both on a court with Kevin Durant.

 

Do you think you would notice the difference in abilities between Kaylee and I? Or would you perhaps just notice the greatness of KD and smirk at the two girls trying to take on an all-star?

You see, when we compare our sins to each other, its easy to see which is worse. Drugs > Lies. Adultery > Gossip.

But when we compare any of these to the holiness of God... they are all the same.  Drugs, Lies, Adultery, Gossip < God.

So to say that you don’t have a dramatic testimony- let me assure you: it took just as much of the Savior's blood for you, as a child, as it did for the worst of sinners.  We all can only stand in awe at the price that was paid on the cross to make us holy in His sight!

...If someone asks you about your hope, always be ready to explain it.

1 Peter 3:15

Our testimonies are important, and they are meant to be shared.  People might be able to argue theology, but they can’t argue with what God has done in your life! I have always heard that, and it has taken me a long time to embrace it- but its so true.

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?  Since He did not spare even his own Son, but gave Him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

Romans 8: 31-32

Our testimonies can’t be exaggerated.  There will never be a time when you can overstate the goodness of God. Words can’t contain Him! I LOVE THIS. What a big God!

How precious are Your thoughts about me, Oh God. They cannot be numbered!  I can’t even count them, they outnumber the grains of sand!

Psalm 139: 17-18

Our testimonies are personal.  God loves each of us and He knows each of us.  Our testimonies are unique for a reason!  How many people would be able to engage and reach if we all had the same story? There is a beautiful reason why we all go through different things and why we all have a different story- and the reason is to see more hearts be full of Him!

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3: 14-21

Our testimonies don’t end with Salvation.  It’s a relationship, not a religion.  What God did in my life yesterday is just as much a part of my story of His grace as is what He did one Wednesday night in October at Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee, Oklahoma.  

Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.