Recently a pastor friend invited me to give my testimony (Christianese for telling others how you became a Christ follower) at the small rural church where he currently serves. Though not particularly fond of public speaking, I agreed to it, and spent a great deal of time in prayer and preparation. Whether or not what I said had any lasting impact on the few in attendance that Sunday is unknown, but I can tell you how the preparation for that day affected me.
I was overwhelmed.
Overwhelmed as I recalled the painful details of the shipwreck I’d made of my life before finding Jesus. Overwhelmed reflecting on the incomprehensible patience and love God extended to me through the years I spent searching in all the wrong places in all the wrong ways for truth and happiness. And overwhelmed by the radical change knowing Jesus has made in my life.
Remembering the amazing way Jesus made himself known to me brought a deep and renewed sense of humility, joy, and gratitude.
If you are a fellow Christ follower, do yourself a huge favor. Write out your testimony. Give it thought; pray to remember details accurately and for the ability to convey your story clearly in a way that focuses on Christ and honors him. Put it on paper and practice reading it or better still, memorize it just as though you were going to share it next Sunday at a small rural church.
Perhaps the instruction of the familiar verse, 1 Peter 3:15, refers not only to being able to share the gospel effectively through scripture, but also being ready to share your personal testimony of how Jesus became your Lord and Savior.
“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
1 Peter 3:15 ESV
If you don’t yet know Jesus as your Savior and don’t know who to ask about it, open the Bible or download a Bible ap on your phone and see for yourself. Jesus tells us plainly who he is.
In Hebrews 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” There is no other way to heaven – regardless of how moral or intelligent or benevolent we are in this life; Jesus is the only way we can come into the presence of our Creator God when we die.
Simply knowing about Jesus won’t get you into heaven. Believing there is a God won’t do it, nor will belonging to a particular denomination or church. Reciting or repeating a prayer that doesn’t sincerely reflect your own heart’s cry won’t even do it. As the verse above says, no one comes to the Father (God) except through me (Jesus Christ).
Surrendering your life to Jesus is a personal decision that takes place when we understand we cannot save ourselves. When we finally come to a place where we’re willing to admit we are sinful and unworthy of coming before a Holy God, then we begin to grasp the purpose of Jesus’ life, death, burial and resurrection. The amazing thing is that God loves each of us so completely that he helps us come to this understanding when we genuinely seek him.
If you want to know if God is real and if Jesus is who he claimed to be, ask God to show you and watch what happens! Some suggested Bible verses to start with are: Ephesians 2:8-10; John 3:3; John 3:1-22; Romans 6:23
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7