A Boast-worthy Testimony

We live in a time when biblical predictions have become visible realities. Paul wrote that in the last days, perilous times would come upon the earth (see 2 Timothy 3:1). Right now, things are taking place we could not have imagined a few years ago.

Jesus predicted that men would become lovers of themselves, lovers of money, hateful, and arrogant. Today, our nation’s leaders cannot agree on the most basic common principles. If someone has the nerve to mention sin, he is called a bigot and made an outcast. As God’s Word is moved to the sidelines of the culture, sin becomes more and more prevalent.

Pastors feel the spiritual bombardment. Week after week, another marriage may be falling apart, kids harm themselves out of self-hatred, and drugs are more widespread than ever. Sadly, there are fewer voices to help, as reports of an increased number of pastors leave the ministry.

As Christ’s church, we cannot fall asleep to these things. The Old Testament speaks of the sons of Issachar, a group that had a knowledge of the times and skill in dealing with the world (see 1 Chronicles 12:32). Can the same be said of the church today?

If we discern the times, we know this is not a moment for half-measures. The only way for us to “deal with the world” is not to let church be business as usual. Jesus said of certain demonic spirits, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21, NKJV). In these times, our prayers must be fervent because, without spiritual change, things look too bleak.

In the midst of darkness, Jesus calls us to be light. A message for such a time is this: “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4, ESV). God has done awesome works in the lives of his people, and each one of us is called to proclaim his glory through a boast-worthy testimony.

What does a boast-worthy testimony look like? As the apostle Paul said in scripture, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (2 Corinthians 10:17). To do the kind of boasting Paul describes, we must have a testimony worthy of boasting, bringing all glory to God