Testimony

Our Rebecca's family
Advent Candle service 2016

"And they have defeated [Satan, the one who accuses them before our God day and night] by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives even when faced with death." (Rev. 12:11)

My preparations for a Bible study of Revelation for spring small group semester have caused me to ponder, "How does a testimony defeat Satan?"

Personal testimonies of how one came to Jesus are a common occurrence in Christian church services. The backstories before  Christ are as different as chalk and cheese, but the tale of rescue is the same for every soul: saved by God's grace and cleansed by Jesus' blood.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." (Eph. 2:8)

"...Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth...loves us and released us from our sins by His blood." (Rev. 1:5)

Therefore, 

"Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the One who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword [or Satan]?...But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:33-37)

No backstory is too sordid to trump God's grace and the blood of the Lamb. Come to Jesus by faith, beloved. Eternal life conquers the devil of darkness.