Testimony

My pastor asked me to share my testimony with the church at our Thanksgiving feast.  I typed it out and read it to them because I get REALLY nervous speaking in front of large groups of people.  What did Jesus do for me that day?  He calmed my nerves enough to stand up and share.

So I thought I would share it with you. It went something like this:

I'll be honest, when the Pastor first asked me to give my testimony I was a bit hesitant.  Took a couple of days of prayer to get me up here.  I thought, man, I really have a tough time talking in front of people.  Especially about my life and testimony.  Then I thought, it's really not about me.  It's about what God has done in my life.  And this whole thing is really about Jesus.

So, what is a testimony?  I found the definition to be, in this circumstance, - a public profession of a religious experience.  And I thought, well that's pretty cool, because becoming a christian is most definitely a religious experience.  It's probably the first REAL religious experience anyone has in their life.  But anyone can be fooled.  I had a religious experience as a young kid at age 8.  Shortly after that, I was baptized, but my life didn't really change.  I'm pretty sure I knew what I was doing, I just wasn't ready to change.  You see our enemy is a master of deception.  The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8 - Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  And me being selfish at heart not wanting to give up the ways of the world, I was like a wounded gizelle.  So from age 8 to 28, I still lived according to my rules.  

Even through all my rebellion, the Lord continued to tug at my heart and draw me close to Him.  At age 29, I cried out to him and finally accepted Christ.  The Bible says in Romans 10:13 - For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  And that's exactly what I did.  More than once actually.  I really wanted to be sure this time.  Since then, the Lord has worked through me and has done amazing things in my life.  He's cleaned me up, He's helping me use my gifts and talents to glorify Him, and He's given me a beautiful, supportive wife and a wonderful baby daughter.  It's only when we surrender to Him and give up self, that the Lord can truly be glorified.

So.  I want to issue everyone in here tonight a challenge.  Step back and take a look at your walk with God.  First off, is there a walk to look at.  See, maybe some of you are like me and you got baptized at an early age and thought you were saved, but you haven't been living like it and every step you take is a step without the Lord and not in his will.  If this is the case, I urge you to deal with that tonight.  Don't go another day without being secure in you salvation.  Grab a deacon or the pastor and just say, hey, we need to talk.  They'd be happy to talk with you.  Second, if you know you are saved, take a look at what else the Lord has been calling you to do and answer His call.

~ T