Admin Note: This article was originally posted in 2013. I’m re-posting it now because telling the story never gets old…
This is a salvation story… or the power of a testimony…
“Everybody’s got their own thirteen”
– Matthew West
It started with a long drive… not quite as long as one might expect from the title of this post, but it was longer than I expected when we set out on the drive. The drive was part of a youth group service activity where we delivered food to needy families at Thanksgiving. My wife, Jill, and I, along with three of our youth group girls in the back seat, were in our Jeep on our way back from dropping off food. We had about a half-hour ride back to the church. We were talking about music as we drove back to the church listening to tunes on a mix CD that was playing.
About ten minutes into our trip back to the church, Matthew West’s “Next Thing You Know” started playing. I love the story in this song, as it deals with a salvation testimony. It seems that my favorite songs all have something to do with salvation. This song was one of those and it opened an opportunity for focused conversation. I enjoy hearing and sharing testimonies of salvation and I try to never miss an opportunity… So, as the song played, I started explaining the lyrics to the girls in the back seat.
As we talked about the lyrics, I asked their ages, which I already knew were around 13 or 14. As they told me their age, I recounted how the lyrics described a person trusting Christ as Savior at thirteen, and how Matthew West sang that everyone has their own “thirteen.” I also described how the story didn’t end then, because years later, that person realized there was more to being a Christian than just “believing.”
As a result of this discussion, we turned down the music and both Jill and I gave testimonies of our salvation, and described how we began to recognize God’s plan for us once Jesus became real to us individually. As Jill told her story, which is a tremendous testimony of God’s grace, there was silence in the back seat. I recognized that something special was happening, so I did my best not to interrupt or embellish Jill’s story.
As Jill finished giving her testimony, the girls in the back seat had tears in their eyes. It was now their turn. The question didn’t even have to be asked. One of the girls spoke softly in a broken voice as tears streamed down her face, “Mrs. Jill, I’m not sure if I’m saved.” My own tears were starting to well up as a second girl immediately added, “I don’t think I’m saved either.” With tears in their eyes and hearts longing for a Savior, these teen girls were looking for their place in the history of grace. As we pulled into the church parking lot, I silently prayed that God would save these two girls that day.
Next thing you know, we were discussing the gospel with these two young ladies. Then, Jill took the two girls into a classroom in the church and showed them clearly what the Bible tells us about God’s love, His provision of redemption through His Son Jesus Christ, and the opportunity each of us has to partake of that provision by accepting God’s grace and calling upon Jesus Christ to be our Savior. Although it was only fifteen or twenty minutes, it seemed like forever before Jill and the girls came out of the classroom… Finally, Jill walked into the church foyer, followed by two new Christians with smiles and tears of joy, having just trusted Jesus Christ and accepted God’s gift of salvation.
Both of these girls had been in church much of their lives. They lived what they thought was a Christian life. Then one day, they heard a song, they listened to the Truth of the gospel, and (next thing you know) they left with a story of their own.
Everybody’s got their own thirteen…
So what’s your story about His glory?
Note from the author: Matthew West’s music is inspirational, not just in genre, but in practical application. It is music and lyrics that cut to the chase about salvation, growing up in Christ, and dealing with the issues of everyday life in the power of Christ. I am so grateful for Christian artists like Matthew West. I own all of his albums and I highly recommend them. Listen to the lyrics of his songs. I think you will agree and will be moved.
Next Thing You Know
by Matthew West from the album “History”
I remember when I was thirteen
I saw a picture on my T.V. screen
The Reverend Billy Graham and the people singing “Just As I Am”
And it felt like You were talking to me
And the whole world seemed to fade away
Until I heard my mother say “Son, are you okay? Do you wanna pray?”
And that became the hour I first believed
CHORUS
Next thing you know I’m high and flyin’
Next thing you know
My heart is in your hands
Next thing you know
There’s no denyin’
Next thing you know I’m a brand new man
Well, I wish I could say I always stayed right there
And I did until my freshman year
But the world was pulling me a long way from thirteen
And you were calling but I didn’t hear
Still I knew there was something more
So, one day my knees hit the dorm room floor
I said, “If you’re there, and if you really care,
Come and talk to me like I was thirteen.”
Got a picture in my head today of how heaven might look someday
I see the people there, so I pull up a chair
And their stories, they blow me away
‘Cause I can see it on every face
The evidence of grace
And as I listen it occurs to me
Everybody’s got their own thirteen
So, what’s your story about His glory?
You gotta find your place in the history of grace
Yeah, what’s your story about His glory?
Come on and find your place
John 3:1-17 (KJV)
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Awesome story! I can remember the day I got saved, and I am so thankful for the Grace of God. Music is a huge part of my life (especially worship) and I know that the Holy Spirit can greatly use songs to win others to him. Music is a great gift from god!