Don't Hold Out!

A personal testimony is a powerful tool which can bring much glory to God.  Whilst it is true making our past lifestyle or sins the focus is an improper emphasis, it would be wrong to ignore them.  After his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite, David wrote in Psalm 51:3, "For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me."  David's acknowledgement of his sin produced a humility in him before God and men.  Our story ought to always point to God's deliverance, grace, and faithfulness despite our faults.

There is a flavour people can give to their testimony of God saving them which suggests they had a license to sin in their "BC" days - before Christ.  The implication is they were far worse sinners in those days than now.  There's no way they could ever sin like that again!  This is not necessarily true.  To think we will never sin after Christ to the degree we sinned before is inconsistent in the life of David and likely our own.  In the matter of David's sin, he transgressed decades after he committed to trust, obey, and worship God alone.  In Christian circles, people can be very free to share with others how they used to live before Christ.  On the other hand, to admit they have struggled or stumbled into sin since is quietly kept under wraps.  This produces a false front, a facade of spiritual strength to hide faults we know all too well a "good Christian" could or should have overcome.

And the result?  Christians are reluctant to admit they are struggling, and this lack of transparency leads other believers to do the same.  Openness concerning personal matters and frank honesty concerning sin promotes the same.  Why is it that when we choose to follow Christ we assume we ought to be perfect and refuse to admit our hurts and struggles?  Perhaps people are afraid their "salvation" will be doubted as genuine.  No one wants to be judged by others or seen as weak failures.  Pride has a lot to do with concealment of our faults, and God requires us to walk humbly with Him.  When we were purchased with the blood of Christ by grace through faith, He purchased us as His own.  Ours is a story of God's redemption and grace - not only before our conversion, but after as well.  Our lives are a tapestry woven through with threads of God's deliverance, forgiveness, acceptance, and love.  If we are His and He is ours, when we choose to keep our struggles and God's deliverance private after our conversion, we hold out on God.  In doing so we refuse God glory to save face before men.

When we share the testimony of God's salvation and deliverance of our souls, let's not keep referring back to our days before we came to Christ in faith.  It is fitting to talk about how God initially opened your eyes to your sin and need for salvation and forgiveness, but speak freely and frankly about how He has delivered you since.  Like David, we too can testify God is a living God who has delivered us out of all distress, affliction, and sin.  Transparency with others in the Body of Christ leads to true accountability.  Our story is God's story, and we ought not keep the light of His deliverance hidden from those who have also tasted and seen God is good.  Instead of painting ourselves in a soft, fuzzy light to improve our image, how much better to accurately describe the wondrous things God has done in delivering us from sin and ourselves.  To God be the glory, both now and forever!