When was the last time you stopped and remembered what God has done for you? I think the longer we’ve been saved, the easier it can be to forget about what He has truly done for us. I know that for my own self, having grown up in the church and in a great family, it can be easy to forget what life was like before coming to Christ or what He saved me from. It can be easy for me to get caught up in being so busy for God that I forget about the grace He has given me.
But don't worry, God has a way of slowing me down and getting my attention during times like that. God has used lots of different people and circumstances in my life to help me get my focus back on Him. Even times like taking Communion make me stop and focus on Him as I am reminded of the sacrifice He made. In fact, I love that we do Communion at least once a month because it forces us to take time from our busy schedules and lives to focus on Jesus.
This past weekend was another one of those times that God slowed me down to give me a reminder of the love and grace He has extended to me. This past Sunday, I attended my uncle’s funeral in upstate NY. Obviously, having to drive about 5 hours away forced me to make different plans for the weekend that pulled me out of my “normal routine.” But I was glad I was able to go up and see the family, especially since I do not get to see them very often.
My Uncle had been suffering for a while and had known that his time was coming. Leading up to that, he was meeting with a couple other men as they continued to seek God, study His Word, and pray together. He wanted to make sure that, at his funeral, the Gospel was preached. So he wrote this metaphor about his testimony and what God had done in his life. In fact, when I got to see him this past Christmastime, he shared a little of it with me. It was incredible to see, in written form, his love for Jesus and his recognition of what Jesus had done for him. He wanted to make sure that it was distributed and read at his funeral. It was an incredible story about how God had saved him and changed his life. I hope that you enjoy it as well.
Testimony in Christ
Kevin Lee Seifridsberger
April 15, 1963 - June 2, 2023
I have lived high on the hog. I have lived low on the hog. I have lived as the hog. I have wallowed in the muck and mire and I have eaten the slop that was placed before me - and took pleasure in these things. I did not seek after God, nor did I care for Him or his things, for it is written, There is none righteous, no not one, there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God, there is no fear of God before their eyes.
Then one day I was lying in my muck and mire when the Good Shepherd came over, and started to talk with me, and told me He could lift me up out of that muck and mire, wash me off and make me clean. He could make me a new creation and save me from the slaughter that was before me. So I laughed at Him and said how can you make me a new creation? I was born a swine, how can I be anything else but a swine? He said "Do You see those sheep that follow me everyday? They were once like you, and I changed them, and I can do the same for you. Consider it in your heart." Then He went His way.
So I watched the Shepherd and His sheep everyday. I noticed He would come down from His home to the Shepherd's pen and call each of His sheep by name.
They would come running to Him and meet Him at the gate. He would set them FREE! Wherever He would lead they would follow. He would lead them to green pastures and still waters. I said in my heart, "That Shepherd, He must really love those sheep; because my master just goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. I was just a meal for him to devour.
It came to pass that one day after the sheep came home, the Good Shepherd came over and began to talk with me again. He said "Don't you know I can make you whole and complete in Me? Don't you know I paid a high price to redeem the living? On the tree I gave my life for you. I shed my blood for you. I was lifted up and hung for you, all because I love you and care for you and don't want to see you go to the slaughter." So I dropped on my knees and asked the Good Shepherd to save me from the slaughter that I was headed for. He immediately picked me up over the fence and set my feet on solid ground.
He washed me off, made me clean, and He set me free so that I might be free indeed. Then He said "Come walk with Me, talk with Me", and He told me I was His very own. He told Me things I never knew, as we walked along the way my heart burned within me as He opened the scriptures up to me.
Before we reached the Shepherd's pen I turned and ran from the presence of the Lord. I returned to the swine pen. I ran all around it but I couldn't find a way back in. I found a gap in the fence near the trough, and I stuck my head in. I began to eat the slop that was in it. It came to pass that I thirsted for some water.
I looked at the other end of the trough, and saw a pool of water. I wandered over to it and stuck my head in. As I looked down in the water, I saw my reflection. I realized that the Good Shepherd had done what He said He would do, for I was no longer a swine but I had become a lamb of God. Now I understood why I could not get back in the pig pen. He had said "If any man comes unto Me, I will in no way cast him out, and no one can pluck him from the hand of My Father. So, I repented of what I had done, and I turned around. To my surprise, there He was, standing right beside me, with His rod and His staff. He comforted me. He never left me nor forsook me, even though I forsook Him. He said "Come, My son, walk with Me and talk with Me, for I have missed you since you left Me. He led me back towards the Shepherd's pen. I followed Him, with joy in my heart. When we came to the gate, He let me in the Shepherd's pen. I was now His very own, I said in my heart these words that He gave for all of us.
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
For thou art with me.
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me, in the presence of mine enemies.
Thou anointed my head with oil, my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
And, I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
This is my testimony, to you, with love, in Christ.
As I sat there reading this, it was such a great reminder of all that Christ had done for me too. Sometimes we all need to be reminded of the great love of Jesus, our Good Shepherd. We can get so caught up in the day-to-day routine of our lives that we forget about the great grace and mercy we have received. I encourage you to take some time today and thank God for saving us. Thank Jesus for dying on the cross to take away our sins and taking that punishment on Himself. Let us give Him all the praise and glory.
