Can I get a witness?
One of the best things in life to have, is someone who can attest to the type of person you are. A true witness is someone who through experience or personal observation testify, and that is good to have. Today because of the increase of crime city officials are asking the public to come out and bare witness and speak out. But being a witness has its perks. Many people do not want to get involved when it deals with testifying against someone. The bible says that the only way a witness is valid is when there is more than one (Deut19:15). But just to have someone vouch for you it is great, and having more than one is even better. In God’s family we are surrounded by witnesses, who are a witness of who we are in Christ (Heb12:1). Luke encourages us to run the race that is before us with the thought that someone is also there looking out for you. We are also to be ready to be a witness and defend what we believe (1Pe3:15). Your words like those of another do bare weight for when a witness is required, but not just words. Words need to be accompanied with some sort of action in order for a witness to be held in truth.
John 5:35-37
35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
John the Baptist, Jesus told the Jews that he was a light whom they bared witness that he came from God and did rejoice in him. The things John did and spoke of bore testimony of who he was, and everyone there was a witness but only for a while. The testimony of a witness only holds for a while when the evidence it provides is circumstantial and not direct. Circumstantial evidence indirectly suggests a fact and direct fact doesn’t. Now, when your works bare witness who you are, they hold a more direct set of evidence in favor or against you. And Jesus spoke of this when he said that he had a greater witness than of John’s. The works that the Father gave Jesus to do, they gave a direct witness of who he was. And so do they with us, the works we do bare witness of who we are and what we believe. The works we do are known as fruit, and Jesus said that they bare a witness of us (Mt7:16-18).
When we do the works in God, the witness they bare lasts. The Psalmist said that the leaf of our fruit does not wither (Ps1:3). But when our works are not in God or towards him, they themselves bare witness against us. Jesus said that every tree that does not bare fruit will be cut down and taken away (Jh15:2).
Deuteronomy 19:15
15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Psalms 1:3
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
John 15:2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.