My name is Dawn Glock. I’m 22 years old. I live with my family in Churubusco, IN. I have been a believer since I was six years old, and as I’ve grown in the faith, I can see how God has directed my life and kept me close to Him since that time. It wasn’t until the last two years, however, that he has shown me, through the witness of Amy Reinbold and her family, from the PRC of South Holland, IL, the truth of His Word. That He has chosen me to be an heir to His kingdom. The fact that He had planned my life made the acceptance of the disease I had much easier. His grace overwhelms me.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:13-14
When called upon to testify as a witness in the courtroom, the duty that befalls you is to proclaim the knowledge you have, either for or against the person for whom the testimony is given. In the case of the criminal, the hope is that your word will be adequate enough to convict: for the innocent, the link to freedom. One person’s testimony can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. So too, God uses our testimony to share the difference between spiritual life and death.
We as Christians have been called to salvation and are the chosen children of God. This calling ensures us of our heavenly rewards and the miracle of eternal life. However, it also requires of us the responsibility to obey God’s decrees. This responsibility includes sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” Matthew 28:19). This is not something God has told us we may do if we feel like it. It is a responsibility that is expected.
We should share the Good News of Jesus Christ. It is sometimes very difficult to discuss what God has taught us without feeling “pushy”. The world around us places Christianity in the “religious” category, to which belong the weak in spirit and money-hungry evangelists. To have an opportunity to share, the world needs to see a living example of what Christianity really is. They need to be shown peace in a world where there is no peace, contentment in a world of discontent, joy in the midst of sorrow, and love in a world full of hatred. These things can only come from God.
I am amazed at the number of times God has created a situation for me to share the Grace of our Heavenly Father over the past two years. I was attending Morehead State University in Kentucky, working fulltime as the office manager in a jewelry store, and very involved with a group of musicians that traveled to churches throughout the eastern half of the state ministering to the youth groups in the area. I had my life planned, and everything was going great – right on schedule – to my way of thinking. I was wrong.
In October of 1988, I was diagnosed as having Polymiositis, a neuromuscular disease I had had very lightly as a sophomore in high school. I wasn’t told it could return, so you can imagine how shocked I was. As the disease worsened, I became unable to get up and down, raise my arms, at times, swallow. I even go to the point where my lungs would barely work when I was lying down. There were a couple of nights that I didn’t know if I would live until morning. I had to have total care.
You might, at this point be thinking, “What a terrible thing to happen to a young girl in the prime of her life!” “Why?” “It’s not fair!” Those are just a few of the thoughts that crossed my mind. There was nothing I could do physically, so I started immersing myself in the Word of God. As I did, a peace came over me that can only come from God Himself. I still had times when in my humanness I couldn’t understand why this was happening to me, but in my spirit, I knew God was in control, and that “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. That kept me going and I was content in letting God work His plan for my life.
The fact that I was not bitter and was content in Christ, caused people to ask questions. They didn’t understand how I could deal with my disease that had “stolen” my life. This gave me the opportunity to share God’s love and that His grace is sufficient for me.
Even now, as my disease is in remission and I continually regain my strength, I can say that God’s grace has sustained me, for there is no earthly way possible that I could have faced this without Him.
Yes, mine is an extreme case. But don’t think people aren’t watching your actions and your reactions to little situations in your everyday life. Presenting yourself as the image of Christ, and letting the fruits of the Spirit show forth may afford you the opportunity to be on the witness stand testifying to the everlasting life in Jesus Christ.