My Testimony: HIM not me! - Part III

What should be a Christian's testimony?

In Part I, I introduced the question, "What is my testimony?" In Part II, we quickly looked at the biblical testimony. In this final part, I hope to help believers understand what a Christ-exalting testimony is.

I'm going to make this very short while hopefully maintaining relevance and spurring you on to honor Christ.  Read the Word of the Lord in the account of the Samaritan woman:

Joh 4:39-42

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.  So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.   And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. 

You know the story of the Samarita woman (Joh 4:5-29).  When the Samaritan woman gave her testimony, she did not recall her past life nor wonder at the new life ahead of her.  She did not call the hearers to understand her sordid past.  She did not make the hearers to marvel at her renewed outlook on life, her newfound joy and peace nor her hope of a better future.  She merely told the hearers of her testimony, "He told me all that I ever did."

What was her testimony to the hearers?  I submit to you that her testimony was this: I am a sinner, a great sinner - lost and dead.  He made me to see my sins.  Greater yet, He made me to see Him and now I rejoice because the Messiah has found me and saved me from my sins!

Christian, the height of your testimony is not your pursuit of holiness and achievement of a less sinful life.  Nor is it your current state of happiness and peace as compared to your past.  It is not merely that you once were a drunkard and now you are not.  When your testimony amounts to your works and experiences, you place onto yourself a yolk of righteousness that you cannot bear.  When your testimony is limited to the changes in your life, you place blinders on the ears of your hearers so that they only see you and not the God-honoring testimony.

Your testimony is not what you have done, are doing or will do.  Your testimony is that He showed you your sinfulness and need for a Savior and that you have obtained mercy.  The person and the work of Jesus (the gospel) is your testimony.

When you understand that, you will then see that "blowing your testimony" is not about sinning in front of others.  We all do that all day long.  Blowing your testimony happens when you don't blow the bugle of the gospel as an evangel to proclaim the excellencies of Him who brought us (wicked, rebellious sinners then, now and tomorrow) out of darkness and into His marvelous light.  Our testimony is not us, it is Jesus!