Thoughts.com Blogs - Ruining A Testimony

View Blog

Ruining A Testimony

You spend your whole life building a reputation and it can be all thrown away in a few short seconds of irresponsibility and poor decision-making. All you have to do is look at classic examples in sports, like a Pete Rose or Marion Jones, to see how true this fact is. I know there have been and probably will be Christian leaders who have crashed and burned by either chatting on their taxes, wife, or numerous other things.

I think something that is worse than ruining your reputation, is losing your testimony, because it not only reflects you anymore, it reflects Christ as well. We, as Christians, are to reflect the light of Christ and to sit here and tell a person one thing, and live a different way, its hypocritical and counter productive. That is probably the number one claim against the church is the hypocritical tendencies of its members and their lack of integrity at work, in their relationships with others, and their relationship with Christ.

I know this all too well. I have blow my testimony several times, but it has never bothered me as much as it has until recently. Usually, I felt guilty for the sin and didn’t worry about my Christ-like reflection, but this time, its different. Sure, I know sin is wrong, and I need to ask for forgiveness, but what have I done to show that person what Christians are like? I have shown a bad light on the whole church, and most importantly, on Christ. I know nothing can cover His light, but His reflection in my life got a bit dimmer.

Help me Lord. I am weak and fragile and can barely stand on my own two feet. I need your grace to breathe and your mercy to walk. Guide me down paths of righteousness that I may be a good reflection of You do those around me and those I touch I my life. To a person of integrity and upstanding character to the point of where they realize something is different about me. I have hope and a future, and they are all by your grace and mercy. Thank you. Amen.