The Power of the Witness
Proverbs 19:28 "An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of
the wicked devoureth iniquity."
Driving to work today, I began to ponder on the difference between the ungodly
and the unsaved. Then the following question came to me: "Can a saved person
be ungodly?" And since ungodliness is a characteristic of human action,
the answer had to be "Yes."
With that being said, the question I have for every born again, blood bought
believer is this: How much ungodly advice have you given to a brother or sister?
What do I mean by ungodly advice? It is simply advice that God would not ordain
or recommend. It’s the advice or counsel you give someone because you still
want to be liked by him/her. Nine out of ten times, this person knows exactly
what he/she needs to do anyway. However, the problem is that he/she is looking
for that other person who will give the advice he/she wants to hear.
Our text says, "An ungodly witness scorneth judgement." This type
of witness doesn’t see God’s judgement as having any worth or merit. This is
also the type of witness who will give a person advice simply to "tickle
the ears" of that friend, co-worker, or whomever. Yet by doing so, he/she
winds up placing people above the most High God and His judgment. Why? Because
that person needing advice is seen as more valuable than the mandate of God.
To make matters worse, the advice given is not helping that person advance
spiritually the way God desires him/her to grow. For this reason, it is no surprise
that the amplified bible translates our key scripture (Proverbs 19:28) as follows:
"A worthless witness scoffs at justice." If the witness does nothing
for the kingdom of God, then it makes a whole lot of sense for him/her to be
seen as "worthless" for that specific mission.
The most powerful person in a courtroom is not the judge, nor jury, but the
witness. It is the witness’ testimony that can save or send away the person
who’s on trial. Each day, a brother or sister right next to you is on trial.
How will you react? Will you give him/her ungodly advice simply because you
want to be liked? Or will you tell him/her the truth that may possibly free
him/her. Even if that very truth opens you up to be ridiculed, not liked, talked
about, or even hated, will you tell it? Of course it is not an easy choice to
make, but it is the only choice because lives depend upon your witness.
Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and
by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
Your testimony (witness) does have POWER. Use it wisely.