FAITH AND EXPERIENCE

Psalms 119:93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.

In any trade apprenticeship, we can learn lessons, memorize facts and repeat elements of theory without even grasping the concepts of the teaching. The final element needed for these to become an unforgettable part of our consciousness is the practical experience.

The Words and precepts of our Lord can be read, memorized, studied, theorized, but they can also be eventually forgotten. If they are not written in our hearts with the golden pen of experience (Romans 5:3,4), engraved on our memory with the stylus of trial producing experience, These will remain words without works, clouds without rain (James 2;26; Jude 1:12). What a blessing it is to have been dead, and hear the Lord say, Come forth (John 11:43) or Khumi (Mark 5:41). These experiences, these witnesses of the grace and love of God for us can never go away, whatever man may try to do or say to us.

Except for John and Judas, each one of Jesus’ disciples died a martyr’s death. But up until the time of the resurrection, they were weak. They fled the Garden of Gethsemane in fear and Peter even denied knowing Jesus three times (Matthew 26:25). What changed them? What made them become the fearless evangelists that conquered the known world of the day? What gave them the conviction to all of a sudden be able to live and die for their message? Witnessing the resurrection. They personally experienced seeing the resurrection of Jesus. Not only had they seen him, seen the holes in His hands and feet, seen the gash in his side, but they also talked and ate with Him while He personally taught them His Words from the Old Testament. This caused the Old Words of the books, the old teachings to come alive in their hearts; an experience that could never be forgotten, much less denied.

May the Word always be an unforgettable experience in our hearts that will cause us to tell all we meet of the life-giving ways of Jesus in the first person, as a first-hand witnesses.

1John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.