Go ahead...depose me

“But he knows where I am and what I’ve done. He can cross-examine me all he wants, and I’ll pass the test with honors. I’ve followed him closely, my feet in his footprints, not once swerving from his way. I’ve obeyed every word he’s spoken, and not just obeyed his advice—I’ve treasured it. (Job 23:10-11 MSG)

I wonder if this will be our testimony - that we didn't waver in our walk, we kept step with him, not choosing our own way instead? Could it be that it would be said of us that we did more than obey 'his advice', but that we treated each and every word he has spoken as that which we treasure and give that right place in our lives? This is indeed a testimony I think all of his disciples really hope will become theirs, but many times we don't even believe this is possible!

Look at what Job recounts for us. He begins with God and ends with himself. All we can hope for is that we really get that right - we begin with God and let self take a backseat to his desires and plans for our lives. Yes, God does know what we have done - and even what we haven't done that he may have asked us to do. He also knows where we have been - no matter how cleverly we try to disguise that from others, he is still the one who 'knows all'. 

I have had the opportunity to be deposed and sit in the witness box for matters totally outside of my control by attorneys intent on wanting nothing more than to tear every word of someone's testimony to shreds. It is an uncomfortable feeling to be 'in the hot seat' and know very well that they are trying to find fault with something that might incriminate a physician, nurse, or owner of some healthcare establishment. The idea is that if they can get you to just 'slip up' once in your testimony - find just a shred of incongruity in it - then they can argue their point either on the side of the defense or the prosecution.

I can recall how uncomfortable it was to know you had nothing to hide, but be treated as though you did! It is not this way with God, though. He isn't going to put us in the hot seat, intent on finding something 'bad' in our testimony he can use to build a case against us. In fact, he does everything he can to ensure our testimony is flawless by giving us the very thing that makes us flawless - grace! His 'cross-examination' will come up short every time because of the life of Christ resident within us! He will find no flaw, no fault, nothing will lack congruity in our lives when all he sees is Christ in us! 

We might start with a pretty 'flawed testimony', but all that changes when Christ is given access to our lives. He isn't about to let us stand 'undefended' or in a place where anyone can 'poke holes' in our testimony! That might come as a surprise to some who believe they can never escape their past failures, but search the scriptures and you will find this is truth! The past doesn't need to be a concern when Christ has made us new in the present. Just sayin!