Flawed Though We Are
Posted: Wednesday, October 26, 2011
by John Waddey
firstcenturychristian
In the beginning, God made man in his image and likeness. When the Creator had contemplated his work, he concluded "it was very good" (Gen. 1:26, 31). You likely are familiar with the fact that the first couple soon fell from that perfect state (Gen. 3:1-19).
When we look at a healthy newborn child we see perfection as the Creator made us. As we look at humanity from adolescence upward we see a flawed race of people. Solomon rightly observed, "God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions" (Eccle. 7:29).Our flaws are of three kinds. Some have some physical flaw that robs them of physical perfection. It might be a genetic flaw or the result of an illness or injury. All of us will have moral and spiritual flaws in greater or lesser degrees. Isaiah said, "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way..." (Is. 53:6). Paul declared, "There is none righteous, no, not one"..."for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:10, 23).
In a misguided attempt to build self-esteem in children, many parents and educators avoid correcting children who misbehave. They prefer to tell them "how sweet or how smart they are, etc." This leaves the children to assume that whatever they want must therefore be OK! This is not helpful for the child’s moral and spiritual development. Rather than recognize his faults, failures and mistakes and correct them, he concludes the problem is with others, not himself. It encourages narcissism which is never constructive.
While it is true that we all are flawed, we should not conclude that we therefore are worthless or that our case is hopeless. Even though we are flawed and imperfect, still the Creator loves us and is eager to bless us. He loved us so much that he gave Christ to suffer the penalty due to us for our sins (John 3:16). Isaiah predict that because Messiah would suffer, "with his stripes we (would be) healed" (Is. 53:5). When Jesus was crucified, something wonderful was made possible for us. As John saw it, "the blood of Christ Jesus....cleanseth us from all sin" (I John 1:7). In becoming a Christian, upon our baptism, Christ washes away our sins (Acts 22:16).
Jesus is set before us as our example, whose steps we should follow (I Pet. 2:21). As we behold his sinless life, we are "transformed into the same image" (II Cor. 3:18). The very name "Christian" suggests one who is trying to model Christ in his or her life. We are thus transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2). Paul tells the Christian "and ye are complete in him (Jesus)" (Col. 2:10).
Although we are flawed, Christians harbor a burning desire to be like Christ in word, thought and deed. Paul, while confessing his imperfections, tells his approach to life; "forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded..." (Phil. 2:13-15).
Many years ago a saintly old minister explained his approach to life. He said, "Every day, in every way I try to be a little more like Jesus." He had made remarkable progress. This should be the goal of each of us flawed human beings.
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