And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives unto death. Rev. 12:11.
The book of Revelation usually associates the word "testimony" with Jesus. The "testimony of Jesus" is a vision that John saw (Rev. 1:2). It is the reason that the prophet is on Patmos in the first place (verse 9). A possession of the end-time remnant (Rev. 12:17), it is the spirit that inspires prophecy (Rev. 19:10). And it is the motivating force that encourages the martyrs (Rev. 20:4). Jesus offers His testimony to the churches (Rev. 22:16).
But the word "testimony" can also apply to believers. The souls under that altar were martyred because of the testimony they had (Rev. 6:9). The two witnesses offer testimony before they die (Rev. 11:7). And the overcomers become so in part through the word of their testimony (Rev. 12:11). Feeble and defective though we may be, our witness is modeled on His witness. As soon as we know something about Jesus, we start to tell others what we know.
In a way it is like the blind leading the blind! A friend of mine, Jim Park, visited St. Paul's Cathedral in London one day. After touring it, he needed to get back to the Waterloo train train station during rush hour. A guide at the cathedral suggested that he ride the bus instead of the underground, and that seemed like a nice adventure.
It took him several minutes, however, to find out which side of the street he should stand on and which bus to board. Finally he got on what he fervently hoped was the right bus and settled down for a ride that would last 20 minutes--or so he had been told. A couple of stops later a well-dressed blind man got on the bus and sat close to Jim. The two men got acquainted, and Jim learned that Roger worked at a music publishing house and was on his way home. Since the blind man was not used to taking this particular route to Waterloo station, he asked Jim if he could guide him to the proper place.
Jim meekly stammered something about his own uncertainty, but offered to give the best help that he could. Fortunately for both of them, a third man guided them both off the bus and into the station. Roger said he could find his own train, but Jim insisted on being his eyes. Somehow they were able to quickly work through the confusion and rush of the station in record time, and Roger boarded his train just as it was leaving.
God, of course, knows where He is going and where He wants us to go. We are wise to consult Him at every turn and submit our plans to Him. But as we learn more about His will and His ways, we become His eyes and ears on earth. As a result, we have the incredible privilege of being His witness here. In so doing we become like Him.
Lord, thank You for showing me the way. I want to be a "tour guide" for others today.
The book of Revelation usually associates the word "testimony" with Jesus. The "testimony of Jesus" is a vision that John saw (Rev. 1:2). It is the reason that the prophet is on Patmos in the first place (verse 9). A possession of the end-time remnant (Rev. 12:17), it is the spirit that inspires prophecy (Rev. 19:10). And it is the motivating force that encourages the martyrs (Rev. 20:4). Jesus offers His testimony to the churches (Rev. 22:16).
But the word "testimony" can also apply to believers. The souls under that altar were martyred because of the testimony they had (Rev. 6:9). The two witnesses offer testimony before they die (Rev. 11:7). And the overcomers become so in part through the word of their testimony (Rev. 12:11). Feeble and defective though we may be, our witness is modeled on His witness. As soon as we know something about Jesus, we start to tell others what we know.
In a way it is like the blind leading the blind! A friend of mine, Jim Park, visited St. Paul's Cathedral in London one day. After touring it, he needed to get back to the Waterloo train train station during rush hour. A guide at the cathedral suggested that he ride the bus instead of the underground, and that seemed like a nice adventure.
It took him several minutes, however, to find out which side of the street he should stand on and which bus to board. Finally he got on what he fervently hoped was the right bus and settled down for a ride that would last 20 minutes--or so he had been told. A couple of stops later a well-dressed blind man got on the bus and sat close to Jim. The two men got acquainted, and Jim learned that Roger worked at a music publishing house and was on his way home. Since the blind man was not used to taking this particular route to Waterloo station, he asked Jim if he could guide him to the proper place.
Jim meekly stammered something about his own uncertainty, but offered to give the best help that he could. Fortunately for both of them, a third man guided them both off the bus and into the station. Roger said he could find his own train, but Jim insisted on being his eyes. Somehow they were able to quickly work through the confusion and rush of the station in record time, and Roger boarded his train just as it was leaving.
God, of course, knows where He is going and where He wants us to go. We are wise to consult Him at every turn and submit our plans to Him. But as we learn more about His will and His ways, we become His eyes and ears on earth. As a result, we have the incredible privilege of being His witness here. In so doing we become like Him.
Lord, thank You for showing me the way. I want to be a "tour guide" for others today.
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