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“…The Only Open Bible…”
In the summer of 1990, my family attended a Christian retreat in Portland. Many people gave testimonies of how God had healed them, provided jobs, given them good health, families and happy lives.
However, it was the testimony of Mike King, a young man in the Navy, that caught my attention. It brought a new perspective of the part my daily actions play in helping other people learn about God, the Bible and Christian living.
In his testimony, Mike said, “…For most of the people I work with, I am the only open Bible they have ever seen, and perhaps the only one they will ever see.”
I took Mike’s testimony as a major challenge. It made me reflect on the idea that my actions might be the catalyst in someone’s life to either accept or reject Christ.
His testimony reminded me of an experience in Africa shortly after I received Jesus Christ as my personal savior. I was working as a range planner for the Ministry of Livestock Development in Isiolo, Kenya. One of my duties was to assist in identifying areas that were suitable for water development.
On one occasion, my technicians and I had traveled for almost three days without food. Eventually, we arrived at our camp and prepared a meal. Before every meal, the group always waited for me to lead in blessing the food. But this time, we all started to eat the moment the meal was edible.
When we were done, one technician brought to our attention the fact that we had not prayed by saying, “We must have been hungry, even brother Vincent didn’t pray!” I learned that the world watches, and sometimes it takes note of a Christian’s consistency. Others may not concern themselves with their spiritual position, but they want Christians to live by what they profess.
Mike’s testimony also connected well to a story I heard from the late Rev. Leon Dicks, of Trinity Apostolic Faith. Rev. Dicks told the story of a pastor who had a speaking engagement.
Unfortunately, he woke up late. In a hurry, he cut his chin as he was shaving his beard. Then, he shut the door on family cat’s tail. While backing up, he knocked over the garbage cans.
Focusing on his speech and the fact that he was late, he drove his car over the posted speed limit. Before long, he was stopped by a policeman. The pastor rolled down the window and, as he was giving the officer his driver’s license, he bitterly murmured, “This is the worst day of my life.”
Then officer, as he was writing the citation, said, “Sir, I understand. My life was like that before I found Jesus.”
The he looked at the pastor and asked, “Sir, what is your occupation?”
It is the daily actions that determine whether one is an open Bible for others to read. The world will better know the Redeemer when it can observe the example of a redeemed life.
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