Living Testimony

Revelation 12:11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

I have been reading through Revelation this week; time becomes lost when you disappear into the prophetic story of the certain future of mankind. The book of Revelation fascinates me, intimidates me, and makes me leery of expounding upon it. This book is incredibly descriptive, and carries a warning of those that might add to their own interpretation of it. As you read of John’s descriptions of heaven, and God’s judgement upon mankind, you read of those who lived their lives for Jesus, and their eternal rewards that will come to them. Heaven is a place we cannot imagine; sin taints our minds of the endless potential of a sinless world. We are marred by depravity, yet the Word of God stretches our imagination of living in paradise with him. The book of Revelation will put a smile on your face when you see what awaits you as his child rescued from sin. The book of Revelation is a book of promise, a book of hope, a book that points you to vivid descriptions of your own piece of heaven.

In the context of Revelation 12, Satan has been at war in heaven during the Great Tribulation, defeated, and cast down to roam the earth. This great beast is going to torment those who believe in Jesus, those who will not bow to him, but look at the strength found in verse eleven above, “they have conquered him.” Satan is defeated by those who remain faithful, those who see him for the defeated enemy he already is. Those who seek God with all their hearts, obeying the first commandment wholly. Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. When you are seeking God through prayer and his Word every day, their is a strength that he gives that will even defeat Satan, even to the point of death, for you realize it is temporal. Paul spoke of this struggle of suffering for faith, but remained steadfast in his faith to the end. Philippians 1:23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. The strength found in a heart that abides in Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.; is the strength of God to endure all things that come our way, even the temptations, trials, and tortures, that our defeated enemy brings upon us.

Your testimony is something that Satan has no power over. Your testimony is how Jesus has changed your life. Has Jesus changed your life? Is there any evidence of it? CH Spurgeon said, “If the man does not live differently from what he did before, both at home and abroad, his repentance needs to be repented of, and his conversion is a fiction.” Your daily walk is a testimony either to conversion, or false conversion. Your living testimony may be the only Bible someone has ever read. Live your life in reflection of the change Jesus has made in you. Live your life seeking Him, and all that is his will for your life. Your enemy can’t take away a heart that has felt the love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness that has realized their need for a Savior. Let the Gospel do it’s work in you, through you, and be a living testimony to it’s power.