Chapter – 38 ‘Rebekah teaches her testimony’
Rebekah had often thought about what she might say the first time she would share her Christian testimony with a group. Today was the day she would talk with her high school girls about her life prior to Christ becoming her Lord. Today she would try to explain the difference in her life now compared to what it was just a few years earlier.
As the teenagers entered the room she greeted the different ones. Susie was one of the seniors and she smiled as she entered. She commented, “You look nice today Rebekah. I like the colorful blouse you are wearing.” The other girls who were seated looked toward Rebekah and also nodded their approval. Rebekah felt good, especially since she had dressed nicer today; it was nice that someone had noticed.
The last to arrive was Kathleen and she hurried to a seat and sat without speaking. This was normal for Kathleen; Rebekah, as always, watched to see if she would speak to any of the other girls or just keep to herself.
It was time to begin so she stood from the far end of the tables, which were stacked together so twenty of them could gather around; then she commented, “I knew about God for twenty-six years but in reality I didn’t actually know him. Do any of you know what I am trying to tell you?” She looked at each of the faces as she took a step to her right. Each expression seemed to be different until she looked into the eyes of Kathleen. She looked to be in deep thought, trying to understand the exact meaning of Rebekah’s question.
Finally Rebekah asked, “Do any of you have a friend that you thought you knew, only to find out after you get to know them better, that there is so much you didn’t know about them?”
Several of the girls smiled and told her yes but as Rebekah looked at Kathleen her expression had a questioning look but her lips were completely closed. Kathleen was thinking, “Now what is she going to tell us; probably something about Jesus.” Rebekah took a step to her left before she spoke, “You all know that I was Jewish and our family believed in God; we went to the synagogue each Saturday and we were taught about the creation, about Abraham, and also about Moses among the many lessons.” She slipped into her seat before she told them that she had memorized the 10 commandments and many of the sundry laws that were taught by the Rabbi’s from the Torah.
“I knew about God because I had read the words and my Rabbi had taught the scriptures but my heart was blank. It wasn’t until my brother shared the Christian Gospel, the Good News, with me that I finally understood who God was.” She told them there was a huge difference in just having a head knowledge of belief in someone called God, than that of fully trusting in the Atonement provided by Jesus, when his blood was shed. She told them that John 3:17 verbally tells us the plan of God. She looked at the faces of the girls before she asked, “Do you understand what I am saying to you?”
No one spoke so she asked, “If I would have died when I was twenty-five, based on scripture, do you think that I would have gone to heaven? Remember, being good doesn’t get a person into heaven. You have to fully trust that Jesus is the Christ and acknowledge HIM as your Savior and Lord. Do you remember that one thief on the cross denied him and one acknowledged him? Big difference in where they will spend eternity isn’t there?”
Janet asked, “So, if I want to make sure I will be in heaven, if I should die, then I need to do what the one thief did?” Rebekah replied, “That’s it, with your own mouth speak to the Lord and say something like ‘Jesus I am trusting you for the forgiveness of my sin. Please teach me the things I need to know so as to please you in my future days’. Thank you Lord Jesus; Amen.” Janet replied, “Wow, that doesn’t seem so hard; so why haven’t you explained this to me before?” Before Rebekah could answer, Kathleen exclaimed, “Just do it so I can have my turn. I want what Rebekah has in her life; in my life!”
Now that Kathleen finally understands that she needs Jesus in her life do you think she figured out what Rebekah told them earlier about mentally knowing God; How about you? Do you know about him through intellect or might you actually know him in a more personal way?
Scripture reference
John 3:16-17, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever [fully] trusts in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge [condemn] the world, but that the world, through Him, might be saved.
Luke 23:39-43, One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He [Jesus] said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” [After death, eternity awaits all of us]
Wouldn’t you like to hear the same response from Jesus?
DG