For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16)

Raucous laughter marked the guests in my father’s hospital room: Two old truck drivers, one former country/western singer, one craftsman, two women from neighboring farms, and me. 

“…and then he got up and busted the bottle over my head,” the craftsman said, finishing his story about a bar fight.

The room bursts into laughter at this now-humorous memory. Dad, struggling for breath as his laughing fought with his cancer for the air in his lungs, puffs out a reminder to everybody that “Randy is a preacher” so they need to watch what they say. Everything got quiet for about two seconds, then the whole room exploded as this news makes them laugh harder and louder. 

Suddenly, about forty minutes into this visit, the craftsman clears his throat, turns to my dad, and gets serious. “No more drinking and bar fights for me, Howard. Those days are behind me. Now I have a different reason to live. I want to tell you about my Savior.”

He then proceeded to do just that, over my father’s surprisingly mild protests.  If there’s a sweeter, gentler way to present the gospel message, I’ve never heard it. 

My dad listened and watched, and some years later believed in Jesus too.

It was a simple testimony from an old friend living a simple life, reminding me again that simple isn’t naïve or stupid; it’s direct and unpretentious.

Just like Jesus. And salvation. 

As I read this I struggled with even sharing it because to some it may come across a bit rough around the edges but I kept coming back to it with the thought that this is reality for many people and there past but what is wonderfully amazing is that once we turn our lives over to Christ we all have a simple testimony to share with an old friend from our past. We truly have a different reason to live. May we share our testimony with someone today, no matter how dark your past was, let us present the gospel message today to someone in need. Is there someone in your life who could hear a simple testimony from an old friend living a simple life?

Have a wonderful day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is 2 Peter 1:12-21