My Boring Testimony

Sometimes I get testimony envy.

I hear stories of people who have come to faith in Jesus after a colored past. You've probably heard them too--the former drug user, the porn or sex addict, the businessman with fraudulent practices, and so on. They get up and talk about how their life was in shambles and testify to how Jesus set their feet on solid ground. There is no doubt that these stories are powerful and impactful. The reason why is because they point toward a God that is not afraid to get his hands dirty and is fully capable of redeeming any human being--no matter the mess. It's often hard to find a dry eye in the room after these kinds of stories are shared.

But if you are anything like me, when you listen to stories like these, you may feel a bit inferior. You might sense that your story is kind of boring. It simply is not as powerful. It would not have the same affect on people because it can't deliver the same kind of punch. And it certainly would not require a box of tissues for those in the audience.

I was raised in a Christian home by godly parents who put Christ at the center. I grew up in the church and went to a Christian school. I honestly do not remember a time when Jesus was not important to me. I could not even tell you about my own conversion. The most I can do is point to some defining moments in my life where my journey with Jesus went deeper. None of this, of course, is to deny that I have made a mess of things. The truth is that I've taken a lot of wrong turns and gotten off track along the way. Those closest to me can certainly attest to the fact that my life is far from perfect--even now. But as far back as I can remember, Jesus has always been near the center of my life. And that has saved me from a lot of unnecessary heartache. Jesus saved me from certain aspects of the world before the world got a tight grip on me. It may not make for the best story, but it still points to the power of God. God can not only redeem someone no matter the mess, but he is also capable of keeping someone away from the mess in the first place. And either one is all about God's grace.

Start children off on the way they should go,

and when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6

The above verse is not so much a promise as it is a statement about something that is generally true. I became a parent about a year and a half ago. And I will tell you what my sincere desire is as a parent. My desire is for my son, (and any other kids God blesses us with), to have a boring testimony. I pray that God would grab his heart early on. I want him to stay out of trouble and make wise choices. I want him to become a man after God's own heart and cultivate solid character from the inside out. I want him to love God and others passionately. I want him to be captivated by Jesus and God's vision for the world. What follower of Jesus wouldn't want something similar for their kids? Who would hope that their kids make a bunch of mistakes so that they can have a cool testimony?

You don't have to be a former crack addict to testify to the grace and power of God in your life. Being a faithful follower of Jesus over an entire lifetime is a powerful testimony in and of itself.