The Two-sided Testimony

John 12:9-11 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

Imagine the intrigue and the curiosity of those who went to see, for themselves, the One who raised a man from the dead, and the one who himself was raised. The questions about what it must have been like to have a death experience, then open your eyes and be full of life once again. Imagine if we had such a grand testimony as this, and be able to actually share the account with others! What could be said? "Well, I was dead and now I'm alive. That's all." Wait! Hold on! We DO have a testimony like this one. Yes...each and everyone one of us who knows Jesus as Savior and Lord has this very testimony. "I was once dead in my sins, but now in Christ Jesus I am alive!" Lazarus' testimony was a powerful one. However, it was only powerful because Jesus was the Power behind the testimony. Lazarus did nothing to make his testimony a powerhouse. All he did was die. It was what Jesus had done in his life that made his testimony so effective. It was a two-sided testimony. On the one side it drew people to Jesus, and on the other, it drew the persecution of those who wanted to kill both him and Jesus. Can we say that we have a testimony that God can use in a mighty way? Do we still look and behave the same today as we did before we accepted Christ? Is there any significant change in us that would stand out so that Jesus could use it to draw others to Himself? Are we even telling people about what Jesus has done, and is doing, in our lives? Winning others to Christ is not about all the effort we put forward so that we can brag about all we have done, and how many we have saved. We can save no one. We can, however, love the Lord by obeying His commandment; the two greatest being to love Him with all that we are and love our neighbor as ourselves. If we will do this, the Lord will certainly use our testimony for His glory. On the flipside, when we truly live for Jesus, the world is going to hate us. Why? Well, because it hated Him, before it hated us. Persecution will come, but Jesus promised that if we are persecuted for His sake, there is heavenly reward that awaits us. So, the two-sided testimony is a win win testimony. On the one side, others will be drawn to Christ, and on the other, our suffering for Him will yield us heavenly reward. How are we doing with letting Jesus use our testimony for His glory?

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).