My Personal Testimony
The Bible says in Revelation 12:11, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Webster’s Dictionary defines “overcome” thusly: 1. to get the better of; surmount (difficulties) 2. overpower, overwhelm, to gain the superiority; win. One of the ingredients in the “overcoming” formula is “the word of our testimony.” There is power in remembering how God saved you. In the few moments it would take you to read this, I would like to give you my testimony.
God began to deal with me about my salvation when I was approximately four years old. Five things stand out that God used to bring me to Him. First of all, the influence of a godly home brought me to Christ. God was not alive only on Sundays in the Pope home. He was the Unseen Guest at every meal, the Presence in every room, and the One to whom we talked when we prayed together as a family. The second influence was the pulpit ministry of my father. What can take the place of preaching? I Corinthians 1:18 tells us, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” The third influence on my life was Dr. Billy Graham. He was preaching one of his early televised crusades at Madison Square Gardens. I remember my parents gathering the kids around that now antiquated TV and telling us about this great evangelist who was going to preach the Gospel. I recall sitting on the floor spellbound by the message. The fourth influence on my coming to Christ was the conversion of my older brother, David. I was four years old when he gave his heart to Christ. I felt so left out of the greatest thing in the world when I inquired at that time and was informed that I was too young. The fifth influence to win my heart was the Sunday School teaching of my mother, especially those flannel graph lessons. Mom would use those very simple felt figures on a felt board and really make the Bible come alive.
I was six years old when I walked down the hallway of 7930 Landsdale Street, Washington, 28, D.C. to inquire about this personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Mom stopped what she was doing. Dad, who was shaving, put it down and they sat on the bed and we talked. Mom had this very simple method of witnessing. My brother had often told me about a drawing Mom had made when he got saved. Mom and Dad began to explain to me the way of salvation when I interrupted and said, “Mom, aren’t you supposed to make that drawing of the crosses?” My mother quickly and amicably agreed. She drew a hill in the middle of a blank piece of paper and then three crosses on the hill. She drew a circle above the crosses and wrote “Heaven.” Beneath the crosses she drew a circle and wrote “Hell.” I remember her asking, “Johnny, where do you want to go when you die?” as she pointed to the top circle, then to the bottom circle. Well, my mamma didn’t raise no fool! I pointed to the top circle. She then said, “Well, Johnny, we’ve got to go through the man on the middle cross.” After she told me of Jesus’ love for me, my father began to reinforce with Scripture. Soon I was on my knees calling on the Lord to save me.
It sounds too good to be true, and it is! Because of that one, brief shining moment, not only am I going to Heaven after this life, I have overcoming power through this life. No wonder Paul said in Romans 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” II Corinthians 2:14 tells us, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”
- Pastor Pope -