“You are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen: that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He.” Isaiah 43:10
Dear Ones:
Why does God work in our lives, bring us to Himself, and begin that monumental work of transforming us into His image? It is to realize, and manifest, the highest purpose for creation, both physically and spiritually, to unveil and reveal His glory. Why? There is nothing of such eternal value, worth, and beauty, as the revelation of God in His perfection, holiness, and love. Think for a moment on this subject, and compare God with fallen man. We can look out over the landscape of history, concentrating our attention on mankind, and we see the same thing, year after year, empire after empire. We see a relative “goodness” of men towards their fellowmen, but, when there is no knowledge of God, man ALWAYS sinks to the increasing expression of his depraved, and disillusioned nature. Instead of gravitating upward towards that which is good, noble, and loving, the contrary is true. There is the descent into the total disrespect and rejection of the value and worth of life, and the love for others. When there is the consideration of God in truth, the whole perspective and power for existing, changes. The first thing we notice when the truth of God is known, is that the thoughts of man become elevated. They rise above the downward trend of the natural nature and mind of man. Secondly, when there is the discovery that sinful man can truly KNOW this God, who saves him from himself, and from Satan, there is the hope of something better, higher, that grips the heart. In seeking God, God reveals to the heart the way to escape the downward pull, and trend. Thirdly, there is given to man, in response to faith, power, and a new life. It is that of Christ by the Spirit. No longer does man have to grovel at the feet of wickedness and powerlessness in the face of the lie, and its consequences. He can be FILLED with the Spirit of Christ, and KNOW the goodness and mercy of God. He can truly KNOW the life of God in Christ. What then is the great challenge of life, as it applies to the wonder of God, and the transforming, demonstrable power of the Holy Spirit?
In the Old Testament, God told the individual believers of Israel, that they were called to BE witnesses. What does this mean? They were given the distinct privilege and authority to KNOW, BELIEVE, and UNDERSTAND that the Lord was the ONLY God, and this forever. There was given to them also the knowledge of God’s way according to the truth in the Scriptures, whereby they could truly know Him, and the reality of His presence. Specifically, there was given to them, as John so clearly expresses it: “….power to become sons of God.” (Jn.1:12) This same power by the Spirit that brings an individual to the new birth, is the same that propels him or her into a life of faith in the perfectly Faithful One…Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote on this matter: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” (Col. 2:6) What does he mean by this? The whole of the witness of God, in and to the heart, resides in the initiative of God to reveal Himself in the truth of Scripture, and then, by grace, to give the power to repent, believe, and receive His forgiveness, righteousness, and Life. It is THEN that the true witness comes to know Him, ever increasingly, testifying of His saving life and power.
On the day of Pentecost, a measure of power was given to all believers, to make them to BE witnesses of Christ, unto the uttermost part of the earth. It was a power that communicated the message of the Gospel, and of the Kingdom of God. It was also a power that transformed the life.
Dear Father, give us a true vision of what a true witness is. Strengthen us mightily to be such. We praise and thank Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad