Not Perfect

Let me share a true story with you about a man and his family and see what you think. He is a wealthy and highly influential individual who loses his emotional stability and in the process, his integrity. He ends up having an affair with another man’s wife who is away on important business and this encounter leads to an unfortunate and unwanted pregnancy. His stepson rapes his half sister and because of his inaction and indifference to address the situation, the real brother of the raped girl ends up murdering the stepson in an act of vengeance for his sister. The father, in order to cover up his own adulterous affair tries a host of tactics to divert the truth from being known but when all plans fail and all other options have been exhausted, he feels left with no other choice but to have him murdered. The murder is carried out and when the illegitimate child is born it also dies just days later.

I know that’s some heavy stuff and almost to horrific and twisted to believe, but it happened. A family and a man like this would be a prime candidate for a 20/20 exclusive or at least the Springer show but instead of being the headline of a national newspaper or the subject of a primetime investigative show, you find him in a different place, A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE. THE BIBLE. This true story is an excerpt from the life of a man named David, King David. I know normally when we hear stories about David they involve names like Goliath or the Philistines and they often involve lions and bears and great feats of courage and heroism. But ladies and gentleman, that’s only part of his story.

The reason I felt led to share all of this with you is to illustrate one of the most powerful and noteworthy points the Bible goes out of its way to make, THAT GOD DOESN’T USE PERFECT PEOPLE. He just uses people. People with problems and hang ups and flaws, people with issues and histories and people with scars. Let me share a few reasons God doesn’t use perfect people…..

1. THERE ARE NONE TO CHOOSE FROM- From the Dali-Lama to the Pope to whoever your favorite preacher may be, I promise you they fight their own battles and deal with their own demons. We are all broken but he is putting us back together again. I am reminded of a story about a Pastor who was preaching and in the middle of his sermon asked the rhetorical question “has anyone ever met a perfect man?” The Pastor was shocked when a small somewhat elderly man sheepishly stood up in the back. “Sir”, he said, “you mean you have met a perfect man?” “No sir, I never met him but I do know of one.” “Well who was he?” the preacher asked. “He was my wife’s first husband, apparently he was a perfect man!”

2. GOD GETS ALL THE CREDIT- The Bible says that God doesn’t choose many that are mighty or strong but instead chooses the weak and the overlooked to do his work. Don’t miss the key word, CHOOSES. Why wouldn’t God choose the best of the best after all isn’t that how we select our teams? God is not impressed by talent or skill or great ability, He has always looked for the broken, the castaway and the bruised and here’s why, God has the ability to take ordinary people and do extraordinary things through their lives so that He alone can receive the honor. God has never selected superstars he simply searches for servants and no matter the limitations they may possess his grace is sufficient.

3. IT IS AN INSPIRATION TO OTHER BROKEN PEOPLE- I’m so glad when God recorded the lives of men and women in the Bible He didn’t just paint a picture of the pretty parts but what He shows is the true image, warts and all. It gives me hope that no matter what my struggles God is still working in and through my life. One of the greatest lies the enemy has ever told humanity is that they were too flawed and broken for God to use. The truth is the more broken you are the more God can and will use your life but you don’t have to take my word for it, JUST ASK KING DAVID.

See you next week.

All for Christ, J.Mark