Adoniram Judson, one of America’s first missionaries in the early 1800s, has one of the most dramatic testimonies I ever heard. He came from a Christian home, but in college fell in with a group who didn’t believe as he had been taught. His best friend was Jacob Eames, a “free-thinker” who was a skeptic. Though Jacob believed there was some type of God, he rejected the Bible.
Adoniram’s departure from the faith broke his parents’ hearts. His father tried to talk with him, but could not match Adoniram’s brilliant reasoning.
Adoniram wanted to go into the theater and perhaps become a playwright. But when the theater group he found had appalling morals.
He traveled more, ending up one night at an inn that had only one room left. The innkeeper apologized, saying the man in the next room was dying. Adoniram assured the man he would not be bothered. But he could hear the man’s groaning all through the night. Adoniram was shaken with thoughts of what happens after death.
As Adoniram sought the innkeeper the next morning to settle his account, he asked about the dying man. The innkeeper confirmed that the man did die. As they discussed the situation further, it came out that the dead man was Adoniram’s friend, Jacob Eames.
Adoniram was stunned–not only because Eames was so young and his friend, but because he wondered for the first time if he might be wrong. He felt that only God could have orchestrated events that led him to this time and place.
He wasn’t saved immediately, but this was the first step in his coming to true faith in God.
I’ve heard other thrilling conversion stories through the years: twin brothers in a former church and half-brothers in our current church who were miraculously saved from drug addiction, a man caught in a piece of machinery who would have died without God’s intervention, the apostle Paul’s Damascus Road experience.
Such exciting accounts can make some of us feel our testimonies are a little lacking.
But consider what salvation is: a new birth. We’ve known people with exciting birth stories as well: One friend made it to the hospital, but not past the lobby when her baby came. My brother was born at home, too quickly to go anywhere, even though the doctor had told my mother that day that the baby wouldn’t come for a few days yet. Another friend planned to deliver at a small university hospital, but complications led to being transported by ambulance to a larger hospital in town.
Yet every birth is a miracle to those involved. Parents greet their newborns with love and joy no matter what details led to the baby’s arrival.
Jesus told about a man leaving ninety-nine sheep behind to find the one lost one and rejoicing when he found it. He went on to say, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). He told of a woman finding a lost coin and then calling her friends in to rejoice with her when she found it. Then He reiterated, “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The little child who comes to saving faith at home, in Sunday School, or in VBS causes just as much joy in heaven as the hardest criminal who believes.
We tend to think of drug dealers, prostitutes, gangsters, and such as the “worst” sinners. Proverbs 6:16-19 says, “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Pride, lying, and discord are right up there with shedding innocent blood.
When Jesus was asked which was the greatest commandment, He replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). If that’s the greatest commandment, it follows that the greatest sin is breaking that commandment. And all of us do so every day.
Salvation is turning from darkness to light, becoming God’s child, receiving forgiveness and eternal life, and beginning a personal relationship with God. That’s pretty dramatic in itself, no matter the circumstances that led to it.
(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)
Stray Thoughts 
Adoniram was one of the first people I read about after becoming a Christian. After I read To the Golden Shore I remember going to my pastor’s wife at the time and asking her why all Christians weren’t that committed.
But what our attention needs to be on, which you point out so sweetly here in your post, is that the miracle of new birth when Jesus saves us is where our focus needs to be.
I’ve read To the Golden Shore at least a couple of times–so inspiring. I know missionaries don’t want to be seen as “super-Christians” or put on a pedestal, but it does seem Adoniram and some others showed an unusual level of commitment.
Just last week in Bible study, one of the questions asked, “Would you be willing to share how you have experienced freedom from slavery to sin, and freedom to worship?” Most of us sat there silently, having been raised in church. And I remember some Sunday nights as a child speakers would come in giving their dramatic testimonies. Mine was definitely tame by comparison! Not strictly related, but something I’ve been appreciating a lot lately is the gift of faith. I guess it’s something I kind of took for granted. But I know of a few friends of my kids’ who don’t have it (one, for instance, told my daughter they’d go to church with her “but I know I won’t believe it”). It made me realize that the ability to have faith is something God gives us. I’m becoming increasingly grateful for that gift, dramatic or not! This was a good read.
I’m grateful for that gift as well. One advantage people who became believers at a young age have is being spared from some of the heartache others go through in the path of sin before salvation. But I think one of the dangers is thinking one is a Christian because they’ve grown up in a Christian culture, yet they’ve never made it their own.
Barbara, you have so gently and graciously reminded us of the preciousness of every new birth. I, too, was raised in the church and often wished I had a testimony. I well remember when the Lord taught me that my testimony was of His keeping power. How He had kept me walking with Him even when I may have wanted to do otherwise. How grateful I am for His faithfulness!
That is a wonderful testimony. And I think there is just as much grace in being kept from certain paths as there is in being delivered from them afterward.
I met God when I was five and committed my life to him when I was seven – and I felt like I didn’t have a testimony worth telling – but God opened my eyes to a quiver full of testimonies where he has changed my life, saved my children in miracle moments – and grown me closer and closer to him – rebuilt my broken places. Life-long Christians need to tell those stories, too.
I think of Israel’s everyday gathering manna in the wilderness–not very dramatic compared to crossing the Red Sea on dry ground, but still a miracle. When we walk with the Lord, we have testimonies every day of God’s faithfulness and provision.
A very interesting post here! I’ve often thought the same thing. My conversion sort of dawned on me bit by bit, it that makes sense. I know there was a moment when it happened, but I honestly didn’t “feel” it or was aware of anything special. My testimony built on itself little by little. I think the strongest part of my testimony is looking back and remembering who I was then and how I’ve changed.
That is a wonderful testimony–being able to see how God has changed us over time with Him.
I agree, every spiritual birth is a miracle. We were dead, now alive, darkness, now light, enemies, now children!! Great post.
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I love how you compare salvation stories to birth stories, Barbara. You’re right … “every birth is a miracle to those involved.”
My testimony is not dramatic at all. I used to wonder if I had a testimony at all, turns out I do. Though nothing dramatic. This is such a great piece Barbara. Love this.
Thanks so much for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend.