Real Hope: A Study of Acts 24-28Sample

The Power of Our Testimony

When creating an oil painting, the artist begins with what is called underpainting: an initial layer of paint or drawing applied before adding the additional layers of brush strokes. This crucial process establishes the composition, look and overall mood of a piece. If you look at the underpainting of a work, you can see its raw potential, with its fundamental elements waiting to be brought to life through the creative hand of the painter.

I like to think of our lives as a canvas on which God is creating one of His masterpieces, moulding and shaping us with every brushstroke. We could consider our life before we become believers as our ‘underpainting’. God was there at work before we accepted Him. No matter how dark, painful and possibly shocking it may seem, our past lives before our salvation were, are, and will always be a part of who we are. Some people think that their past will affect how people view them in the present. But Paul risks the embarrassment of what others will think for the opportunity to give God the glory He deserves. He was not afraid to confess who he once was.

One of the most powerful tools we have when sharing our faith with others is our personal testimony, showing the transforming power of God and giving hope to those who may be going through similar struggles. Everyone has a story to tell. Paul did not boast or show any pride in the horrendous life he had led before his road-to-Damascus conversion, but he didn’t throw the baby out with the bath water either. He used his story powerfully. Never underestimate the power of your testimony.

Written by DAVID BARKER