My testimony. Hmmm…let’s see. Being born into a Christian family, I grew up in the Baptist church. I sang in the youth choir (though I couldn’t sing), attended Sunday School, went to church on Wednesday and Sunday nights, though my friend and I sometimes skipped and walked down to the neighborhood drugstore until church was over.
I committed my heart and sins to the Lord in the summer of 1957 when my parents took me on vacation to New York City to attend what is now one of Billy Graham’s renowned crusades.
I married just ten days after my twentieth birthday. My hubby was a Catholic but, being dissatisfied with the way the church treated him, he became a Baptist so that we would be of the same religion and not cause confusion to any children that might come along.
We joined a mission church started by my father and one of the Baptist churches, which later built its building on property given by my grandfather. We joined when there were around 90 people.
We served in several areas and stayed there for many years as it grew. At one point, when hubby was a deacon, the church had a rift in their membership. It became too much of a burden and, when hubby had served his term, we left. We visited a few churches and finally ended up in our present church around 1989.
Okay, this is boring. So, where’s the testimony, you ask? My testimony is the other side of the coin from most other testimonies.
In between all the twists and turns and ups and downs of those years, I began to understand that I was merely a pew sitter! Though I heard the words of all the sermons and knew it all in my head, very little of it trickled down into my heart. I was a “good person” but not a “good Christian.”
With all my service, I found out that it was not my enter-heaven-free card. If heaven allows me entrance by my works, then how long does my list of works have to be?
I discovered that there is much more to living out the Christian life; it is deeper than just attending church on Wednesday or Sunday or working in the nursery or on committees.
When I disciplined myself to seek the Lord through Bible study and quiet prayer times, I learned that the world’s way cannot be my way, for the standards of the world are in opposition to the holiness of God. God has not lowered the bar of His standards nor relaxed His tolerance for sin because of the world’s beliefs.
No matter what decisions I make, whether large or small, they must be based on God’s Word, otherwise, I reap unwanted consequences and my life spins out of control.
Paul wrote to the Roman believers, “I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind He will accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is.” (Rom 12:1-2 NLT)
When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2000, I learned then that God had a plan for my life and that I could be a useful vessel in His Kingdom. He placed a desire in my heart to write for Him and I have obeyed. I’ve placed my life in His hands for eternity and followed His will.
I have never regretted accepting the Lord’s salvation when I was eleven years old. But what about you? Have you said “No, thanks” to the Lord’s invitation? Or have you said “Yes” but are unsure you have a heavenly Home? Or have you accepted salvation but allowed a distance to come between you and the Lord?
The Lord is inviting you now to get your life right with Him. Be sure of your decision. Scripture says, “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2 NKJV) “Right now God is ready to welcome you. Today He is ready to save you.” (2 Cor. 6:2 TLB) Just remember, you are only one heartbeat away from the eternal resting place of your choice.
As you trust God to work in your dark circumstances, every barrier will become an open portal, every pit will have its golden nuggets, and every hill of difficulty will become a mount of deliverance.
I pray you will know the love of God the Father and that, in giving your life to Him, you will find the peace and comfort you seek. May His will be yours for eternity. God bless you!
~~Blessings, Lynn~~
