Post by: Samantha Ho
A testament. God's testament.
Evidence. Proof.
Old Testament. Proof of old.
New Testament. Evidence of New.
Evidence of God's holiness and of His power. Proof of His goodness and His love. The Old and New Testaments are called testaments; they are evidences of God. It is His handcrafted story, from the beginning of our known time to the eternity that awaits us all. It is laced with point after point, evidence after evidence of Himself. He testifies of ALL that He has done, will do, and continues to do. It is His testimony.
Our Testimony
A declaration of an account, with evidence, with proof. God's handcrafted story, from the beginning of our life to the eternity that awaits us. It is laced with point after point, evidence after evidence of Himself. We testify of ALL that He has done, will do, and continues to do. It is our testimony of His work in us.
[1] As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” [3]Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. [4] We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. [5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6] Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud [7] and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. - John 9:1-7
Testifying
[9] I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
[10] I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation. - Psalm 40:9-10
Telling of great news and telling of deliverance (v.9). No restraint. No hiding (v.10).
[16] Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
[17] I cried to him with my mouth,
and high praise was on my tongue.
- Psalm 66:16-17[3] He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord. - Psalm 40:3
A new song of praise where we will tell of what He has done for our souls. In the good and in the bad. In the best of life, and in the worst.
Unlike testaments of this world, God's Testaments have power. Our testimonies have power. Both are not gently drawn sketches of what could be, but deeply detailed accounts of what is. Of WHO He is. Tossing aside, minimizing, or worse, ignoring the power of our progressing testimony would be to toss aside, minimize, and ignore the power of God.
The story doesn't end when we rise out of the water. Actually, this is when it gets good. This is the rest of our story.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
We get to become witnesses to the end of the earth. We get to proclaim God in every joy-filled circumstance and every bone-dry desert, in abundance of good and in suffering and in loss, in new life and in death. This is our ongoing testimony. This is us testifying. There is victory, and we praise Him from the beginning to the very end.
Oh how tender are the testimonies of the brothers and sisters walking in the Kingdom of Light. How much more stirring, stunning, and great is the testimony of our God.
After a year and a half hiatus, I’m asking myself why I wrote this. Part of it was inspired by the baptisms I witnessed recently. The other part is that I really needed this Truth to quiet the lying voices that drag my mind through the mud of wasted time. I want to tell you, and myself, that this story ain't over. It is in progress. It is ongoing, and will be ongoing until the day of completion. It feels so long, and so painful at times. But it is not wasted. Never will it be wasted. We are living in our future testimonies and God will use this so that many will see, many will fear, and many will put their trust in the Lord. One day, you and I will say, "Come and hear, I will tell of what He has done for my soul".
Sam is a lover of Jesus, working as a strategic planner by day, and a graphic designer by night. Running off of chocolate, Sam loves to spend her time savoring the intricacies of life with others, immersing herself in words, art, and plenty of good food. She has witnessed the strengths and weaknesses of the Asian American church, and has a heart to help build up this generation to be strong in faith and equipped with Truth and Grace. Her ultimate aim is to encourage others to love and cherish Christ even more.