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A Good Testimony

Hebrews 11:5-6

 

From a youth I have heard, ÒWe must be careful to maintain a good testimony.Ó Usually, Enoch is used as the example to enforce the exhortation, because Òbefore his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.Ó But the fact is our Lord Jesus Christ tells us plainly, and we are instructed throughout the Word of God, never to do things to be seen of men, approved of men, or applauded by men. The whole religious world promotes Pharisaism; and we all naturally love it; but it is horribly evil.

 

Blamelessly

Let us ever seek to live blamelessly before men, so that GodÕs enemies are never given occasion to blaspheme by our behavior. I want to live in a way that honors God. I want to honor my Savior in the words I speak and the things I do, as well as in my heart and mind. I purposefully avoid the use of profane language, seek always to dress with dignity, and behave as a gentleman. I seek to live honestly and behave uprightly. I do so because it is right, because I want to honor my God in all things. I want never to bring shame upon the church of God, bring shame upon the gospel of Christ, or bring shame upon my family. Every child of God ought to do these things. Every man ought to seek to leave a good name and a good example for his family.

 

My Testimony

Men and women, seeing such things in me, might say ÒHe has a good testimony,Ó mistaking morality for godliness. But that is not my testimony. My testimony is the testimony of God in my heart, declaring me righteous in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as he did Enoch.

Enoch walked with God by faith. It is faith in Christ that pleases God (John 6:28-29). And it is faith in Christ that receives testimony from God that like Christ himself, because we are in him, the Father says of us – ÒI am well-pleased.Ó

      Like Enoch, GodÕs people in this world please him, satisfy him, and are accepted by him, only by faith in Christ. Enoch did not please God by his own works of obedience, but by faith in Christ. — ÒWithout faith it is impossible to please him.Ó Every true believer pleases God, just like Enoch did.

      Like Enoch, all who trust Christ, being partakers of the first resurrection, the new birth (Revelation 20:6), shall Ònot see death.Ó Then, on that great Day of Judgment, it shall be declared that we please God, perfectly, completely, without flaw, because we have fully obeyed him and satisfied him in the obedience and death of Christ, our Substitute (Revelation 21:27; Ephesians 5:25-27).

 

Not Preaching

The papist, Francis of Assisi, once said, ÒPreach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.Ó Sadly, multitudes think that is good counsel. It is not. We cannot preach the gospel by the way we live, because fallen man thinks good works and righteousness are synonyms. We can only preach the gospel by speaking to others the Word of God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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