Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Testimony Meeting-Please bear with me


I was twelve years old, sitting three quarters of the way back in the main sanctuary of Christ Sanctified Holy Church in Perry, GA.  I was twelve years old when it hit me.  I had since before felt the “call” of God, but never with this clarity and never with this sense of urgency.  To this day in my mind I can toggle through the memories; snapshots of what took place.  I remember the preacher telling me that if I died I would die lost and go to hell.  I remember seeing the saints of God rejoicing, singing, and shouting up on the platform, and without question, I remember “the conviction”.  It was as if my insides had been set on fire; I felt so awful for all the things I had done and the life I had lived…..conviction, condemnation, guilt, pain, remorse, disgrace, these all flooded my senses; the light was on my dark, sinful, soul; I responded.  Up to my feet I went and down to the alter, in front of a whole congregation of onlookers, but I didn’t care who looked on, had to have forgiveness, had to repent, I could not live another moment in this condition.  God forgave me, and I knew it.
That night I went back to the alter.  Everyone who I ever loved and respected told me that I had to be “sanctified” or I will turn back to the way I was.  They told me I needed the “keeping power.”  I am glad they lived the life so they could help me to live it to.  That night I went back to the alter, I was ready to seek it, ready to serve, ready to give up all.  I was ready to be Sanctified.  I can’t tell you all that I prayed, I remember knowing I was sanctified, but still prayed a little more just to be sure.  I remember telling him I was still sorry and him telling me “I know, let’s focus on the task at hand.”   I can’t tell you all of what I prayed, how long, who was there, or what we sang that night.  I don’t remember to a great degree what all went on; but I remember when the “witness” came.  I remember when HE got full control; it was not long after I said these words:
“Whatever it takes.”
I told God I will do whatever it takes; go wherever he wanted me to go, do what he wanted me to do, say what he wanted me to say; little did I know that in a moments time I went from the garden of Gethsemane, up the hill of Golgotha, to whole heartily embraced a bloody cross.  Laying on that alter from the deepest part of my heart I express these words: “Lord I will take the way!  No matter what it takes from me.”  Not long after my complete surrender, my total sacrifice, God “answered by fire.”  He set my soul ablaze with love I never had before, with peace I never felt before, with contentment I thought impossible, and POWER to OVERCOME.  I was “indeed dead to sin and ALIVE to God.”  From that moment on God has been leading me, teaching me, and keeping me.  I owe everything to him.  Granted there has been some deep valley’s, and there will be deeper yet.  But also, there have been some high mountains, and the will be higher yet to climb!  But here and now I want to testify that he has been God through it all.  He is still as real at twenty four, as he was at twelve.  This is my testimony.
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 What I have been thinking about this week is the testimony.  How God saved you is your testimony; and yours to tell.  It is unique to you in some areas, but with certain principle similarities; because we all must walk the same road back to Fathers house.  When we testify we find strength, and strengthen others.  Your testimony is yours and yours alone, no one can take it from you.  When Paul was called to appear before King Agrippa, after years to ponder his thoughts and what he might say.  He did not go with a mind bending theological sermon, he did not regale him with miles of memory recalled scripture; rather he chose to give his testimony (Acts 26). Paul’s testimony, like our own testimonies, punctuates a greater truth and I believe that truth is this.  He saved us so that we might tell others how to be saved.  I guess that is what this testimony meeting was all about for me; remembering that simple truth.  He saved us, so that we might tell others how to be saved.   For me this was about remembering, remembering the ministry of reconciliation.    
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 & 18

Any thoughts (pgcollins65@gmail.com)?  Do you have a testimony?  

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