No compromise: A personal testimony

It’s been about 15 years now that I asked God what He wanted of my life and He answered, “No compromise.” I was still in high school and at our church’s summer retreat. Ps. Richard Holland was our guest speaker and introduced us to revival. I was on the floor, having been “slain in the Spirit,” and felt the presence of God over me. Because I felt He was near, I asked him what He wanted. I knew what I had wanted up to that point, but now I wanted whatever God wanted for my life. I lay quiet for a while, conscious that He was there and waiting for Him to speak, oblivious to the prayers, shouts, and songs around me.

“No compromise,” He answered, after what seemed like a long time. What He said—the exact words—was very clear to me, clearer than any “word” I’ve received directly from the Lord since then. Not only were the words clear, but the meaning was exactly clear as well. God unfolded what those two words meant for my Christian life: I was not to compromise His standard in any area of my life. He didn't want me to live up to what others thought was acceptable, but He wanted me to live up to His own perfect example. It was as Jesus said during His Sermon on the Mount, “Be perfect therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Of course, I’ve failed many times to live up to the perfect standard of God. I’ve compromised many, many times. But, even with all my failures, I am glad those were the words God gave to me 15 years ago because I know that God has called me with the highest calling. God doesn’t want me to compromise in love. He doesn’t want me to compromise in holiness. He doesn’t want me to compromise in discipline, effort, conviction, and commitment to His work. He doesn’t want me “on fire” only on Sundays or only during our annual church camp, but He wants me on fire for Him and His work all the time. “Never be lacking in zeal,” as Paul wrote. Of course I fail to live up to His perfect standard; but He never does, and so as long as I refuse to give up, He will continue to finish the work He started in me.

Moreover, these words “no compromise” mean that God Himself is my standard and not other people. I am not called to follow in the footsteps of any man, except that those lead me further in the way of Christ. Paul wrote to his disciple Timothy for him to not let anyone look down on him because of his relative youth, but to “set an example for all the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” In other words, Paul told Timothy not to set his standards according to those who he naturally should have looked to (the elders in Ephesus), but to set his standards according to the calling of God in his life.

As I’ve matured spiritually (though I admit I still have so, so much to learn), I’ve come to understand that God doesn’t measure us relative to other people, but according to what He has called us to individually. If we compromise His calling in our life and excuse ourselves by comparing ourselves favorably to others, we will be surprised on that Last Day, because God will hold each one accountable for what He’s spoken to them individually and what He’s given them individually. To those who much had been given, much we will be demanded. So, don’t compromise.