For the Testimony Of Jesus Christ
As John passed numberless days on the isle of
Patmos, it is evident that he had not gone there on vacation, nor was he
there on an evangelistic mission. He had been sentenced there because
of the Word and theTestimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:9)
We
are not given details of the courtroom or council meeting that sentenced him.
He reveals only those two things to be the cause. It is not likely
that he was printing illegal Bibles or that he was mis-interpreting the
Bible. He and Peter had before confessed that they could only preach
what they had seen and heard. (Acts 4)It was obvious that John was
faithfully preaching the Word of God.
From what I can see and
understand from the Scriptures and historians that simply preaching anything
was not in itself a crime punishable by exile. I believe a closer
study of John's statement, joined with the traditional documents of His life
would lay the kinship of his testimony directly involved in his
sentence. What is a testimony? First it is declarations and
verbal statements of what a person has witnessed and believes. The higher the
impact of an experience, the more animated the testifyer will be.
All
substantiating proof of an experience will enhance the testimony. That which
is spoken will create more attention if there is life changing alterations
to back up that which is spoken. Testimony that is supported by
witnesses and fellow testifyers is stronger and will have a greater
influence upon hearers and eyewitnesses. The testimony cannot
remain, unless there is a coincidental life action. The testimony cannot be
upheld without conscious attention to truth. Our testimony is very
fragile. It can only last as long as the voice matches the actions and both
conform to the expected norm. In the Christian experience, the expected norm
is the authority of the Bible itself. A Christian can easily destroy
their testimony, with one lie or a bad attitude. The sad thing is that if
they mar their own testimony, they also mar the testimony of Jesus
Christ.
If we match our voice and our life action. If we rise above
the fear of man, if we find complete confidence in God's presence, and if
we commit to be faithful to Jesus; then we will face a incredulous world.
That world is rapidly returning to the animosities that the early believers
experienced. John was exiled to the isle of Patmos because he preached and
lived the life that he knew was right before God. It is amazing that
sometimes we suffer from the hands of people who know we are
right.