There’s something about a good testimony.
Before I talk about that a bit more, there’s a programme that I cannot forget and that programme was called This Is Your Life. I have no idea who liked watching it between my father and mother, but I just remember that it would be on and I would love to sit and watch who the guest would be and the life they would outline. I watched it a lot back in the day and as I got into watching it, the featured personality and people who came to pay tribute to that individual were not really the focus for me. More and more I was fascinated with the role of the host.
Here in England the programme in the late 20th Century had two people who took on the role of host most predominantly – Eamonn Andrews and then when he died, the role was taken over by Michael Aspel. They would go to interesting lengths to surprise the featured personality before uttering those immortal words of the title of the programme. From there they outlined the life and achievements of the individual and introduced tributary after tributary. It would be brilliant if someone significant that the featured personality wasn’t expecting turned up. All this would take before closing the way they introduced things. Once that was said the closing music started the featured personality would take the centre stage surrounded by all those who had paid tribute to receive the applause of the audience. Whilst all this took place the host would have discreetly made his way to the back so that all the focus was on the featured personality as the centre of attention.
Which brings me neatly into what makes a good testimony – and by that I’m referring to a testimony typically in Christian circles and ones that are offered by followers of Jesus Christ. If we’re honest, there’s something about us at times that likes being the centre of attention. Even shy introverts who shun the limelight have an element in which they like to have some attention – even if that attention is to acknowledge that they want to be fussed over and so efforts are made to ensure the environment is to their suiting.
That desire to be the centre of attention can be picked up innocently in conversations where one party will talk in a way that makes them the one to focus on and then when they’re done the other view connects with whatever has been said and then wants in their own way to be the focal point of the conversation.
Yet here is where a very good testimony operates on the Andrews/Aspel Principle. They present an outline of events in such a way that the centre of attention is no longer on themselves but now focuses the spotlight on Jesus. Those hearing the testimony won’t be so caught up with the personality relating the testimony, but more captured with the real focus. It’s very similar to how Jesus reassured His disciples that when the Spirit came on the scene, He would point the disciples back to Jesus. Even as Jesus Himself was doing everything He did to point people back to the Father. The whole deal was about outlining the value and importance the greater Other.
Listening to what happened to me is not supposed to leave you with a great impression of me. It’s supposed to leave you with a great impression of the one who did the work in me, through me, around me to bring me back to Him.
This is especially important when we truly stop and consider who it is we’re really saying is worth being the centre of attention. We look at His example, His ministry, His character, His humility, His compassion, His sacrifice, His love, His holiness, His mercy, His mighty works to mankind, His resurrection – we look at that and we highlight that and it should truly point others to how great He is. That’s what a great testimony should do. That’s what a life that truly is founded in Him should do. We outline that and should take pleasure in making our way discreetly to the background so He can take the foreground and gain the applause and attention He rightly deserves.
In a real way, our lives are a way of us showing others This Is His Life.
(Photo by Sharon Pittaway on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 