Nobody's Perfect

“Nobody’s perfect.”

How easily those words roll off the lips. After all, it is true, “nobody’s perfect.”
How often do you think that simple statement is used as an excuse?

What are we really saying when we say "Nobody's perfect"?

Nobody’s perfect. So, ‘I’ am not a perfect human being. Since I am not perfect, it is clear that God did not expect perfection, otherwise He might have created me differently. In fact, my imperfection is the reason for God's grace. The grace of God covers my imperfection. So, it is not bad if I sin because God doesn’t expect me to be perfect and ‘do right’ ALL the time, otherwise he wouldn’t have offered grace.

Surely you can see the silly reasoning.

The Apostle Paul cut through this senseless way of thinking. After assuring Christians that God’s grace was greater than their sin, he continued with a rhetorical question (in Romans 6:1):

Are we to continue in sin that Grace may increase?

So, it is true that no one is perfect. And it is true that God recognizes our imperfect humanity. Yet, it is also true that God is holy and he expects those who follow Christ to be holy. (See 1 Peter 1:15.) So, you might say that God is understanding of our humanity but also demanding.

How do we make sense of this? How can God demand holiness and purity and righteousness, yet at the same time recognize that it is humanly impossible for people to measure up to His flawless character? Or, from a different perspective, how can God be loving and understanding and tolerant of imperfect mankind, yet demand that disciples of Christ rise to His high standard of moral purity and holiness?

We must understand that God is true to his character. Since He is completely pure and holy, then He cannot tolerate impurity or unholiness; He cannot tolerate sin. It is against his nature.

However, we must also recognize that God is love. Love is just as much a part of God’s character as holiness. Yet these two attributes do not struggle against one another. God does not react in holiness in one instance and then in love in another instance. He is not divided in His mind wondering whether it is better to love or better to maintain holiness. He is completely holy at all times and He loves at all times. The two attributes exist in perfect harmony in the character of God.

We must recognize that God’s love does not ignore or overlook sin. Rather, God’s love toward mankind motivated Him to take action regarding man’s sin problem. Instead of lowering His standard of holiness He provided the means by which mankind can become holy like Him.

That is what the cross of Christ is all about. It was an expression of God’s love for mankind; a sacrifice that was voluntarily made for sinful man. On the cross Jesus was forsaken by God as He died for you and for me so that we would not have to suffer rejection and death.

Yet at the same time, the cross of Jesus is an expression of God’s justice. God's wrath is justified because He is holy. Sin stands opposed to the very character of God. The death of Jesus was a voluntary and sinless sacrifice for sin. His sacrifice satisfied the wrath of God.

The death of Christ on the cross expressed God’s love and His holiness. God created man in His image. He still desires that we come to be just like Him. He has provided the way.

Cleave, Clave, Cloven, Cleft

Cleave or Cleave?

You will not run into the word ‘cleave’ in modern translations of the Bible, but it appeared in at least 100 verses in some older translations. Cleave is actually the spelling of two distinct English words with nearly opposite meanings:

• One ‘cleave’ means: to divide or split.
• The other ‘cleave’ means: to stick to.

If you look at the two words' etymologies (the history of usage and spelling of a word), you will find that the two words have different origins. In addition, the sticky cleave had two early spellings: ’cleve’ or ’cleeve.’

The ’dividing’ cleave is clave when used in past tense. Some folks might remember references to animals with cloven (split or divided) hooves in the King James Version of the Old Testament. The word cleft came from the word cleave and refers to a hollow or split place in a rock. Many folks are familiar with the song Rock of Ages:

     Rock of Ages, cleft for me;
     Let me hide myself in Thee.

Modern translations no longer cleave to the use of these words.

So, what does this have to do with anything?

Words

Words are important. If we cannot agree on the meanings of words, we cannot effectively communicate. God’s word is no different. God has communicated to mankind something from his mind. He knows what he meant and he communicated it using the common language of his people. If we are going to understand God’s message, we need to pay attention to his Word. We need to give attention to words as they were used in their original cultural setting.

Little Words

Some of the most important words in the Bible are little words. Jesus was declared ’the’ King of Israel by a man named Nathaniel. How much difference would it have made if Nathanael had referred to Jesus as ’a’ king of the Jews?

Prepositions are also ’little words’; they show direction, location, or time. Imagine a man running. How does your mental image change if the man is running ’to’? Running ‘into’? Running ’from’? Running ’with’? ’Over’? ’Because’?

Prepositions are vitally important. They help us ‘get our bearings’ within the text.

Context

Context has to do with the surrounding text of a word. The Apostle Paul wrote: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Before and after that statement he was writing about the resurrection from the dead. The context, the surrounding verses on the resurrection, must influence the meaning of the phrase ’bad company.’

Applied

In the older translations that use the word ‘cleave,’ the meaning is obvious in every case. When cleave means ‘stick to’ it ALWAYS appears as 'cleave to' or 'cleave unto.' When cleave means ‘divide or split,’ the context ALWAYS makes the meaning obvious. The context and use of prepositions provide meaning even when two different words with identical spellings appear in the text.

The purpose is not to encourage an academic approach to Bible study. Rather, every English-reading person can discover meaning in the Scriptures. The following will help:

1. Pay close attention to the context. Ultimately, the context gives meaning.
2. Give attention to the little words. Articles (the, a, an) and prepositions are of greatest importance. They generally remove ambiguities.
3. Keep an English dictionary handy.

God intended for his message to be understood. So, instead of asking, “What does it mean to me/you?” read the text carefully and consider the context. Then ask, "What did God mean?”

Can You Hear the Voice of Wisdom?

     Does not wisdom call,

     And understanding lift up her voice?

     --Proverbs 8:1

Consider the stark contrast:
Wisdom calls in the day, in the heights, in places where people gather.

The wicked woman prowls around at night, in the dark streets, preying on the naïve fool who walks alone.

Proverbs 7 and 8 tell even more:

• Wisdom speaks truth; the strange woman flattery.
• Wisdom speak noble things; the foreign woman deceitful things.
• Wisdom utters righteousness; the adulterous woman draws her prey into wickedness.

I have never heard anyone accuse 'Wisdom' of speaking deceitfully. I have never heard anyone say that 'Wisdom' has no value. I have never heard anyone claim that it is foolish to lead or govern with 'Wisdom.' Almost everyone would agree that 'Wisdom' is good.

Wisdom presents herself in the light of day; openly for all to hear; ready for critical inspection. She calls, not arrogantly to gain attention; she calls to offer counsel, hope, riches, justice, life.

Why? Why? WHY!?

Why do so many refuse Wisdom?

• Is it that Wisdom has so little to offer?
• Is it that Wisdom has no value?
• Is it that Wisdom has not made herself known?
• Is it that Wisdom waits in the shadows?
• Is it that Wisdom is difficult?
• Is it that Wisdom is just not popular?

In chapter seven, the foolish young man chose the adulteress.

Wisdom calls...
Wisdom calls aloud...
Wisdom calls aloud in the daytime...

And all choose!

We choose to listen to wisdom OR
   ...listen to our heart,
   ...listen to our mind/intellect/reasoning,
   ...listen to our self.

There are many sources of wisdom in our world, but only one that is divine.
Choose God's wisdom.

Choose life.

When I Thought Truth Was Simple

My co-worker and I were discussing truth. She boasted, “You have your truth and I have my truth.” I answered with a brief illustration in which two people witnessed a hit-and-run auto accident but reported different colors when describing the escaping car. I told my friend that the car could not be ‘both’ blue and green. She still maintained, “You have your truth and I have my truth.”

Unfortunately, she could not accept that she had inserted the word ‘truth’ for the more accurate word: ‘perception.’ After all, a blue car really isn’t green regardless of one’s perception. (Even changing lighting does not change the true color, but only one’s perception.)

The thinkers of our day have taught us to despair with Pilate, “What is truth?”

People have approached truth in a variety of ways. The Sadducees tested Jesus by asking probing questions. (They believed if they could trip Jesus up with a tough question, it would prove that he was not the Messiah.) Probing questions do not establish truth. In fact, the wise answers Jesus gave did not ‘establish’ truth. He was the Messiah with or with the question, and with or without an answer to the question. Unanswerable questions do not establish truth.

I read an exhausting multi-page ‘explanation’ of a Bible passage on the Holy Spirit by a man who could not accept a simple straightforward declaration in Scripture. He began, “What if…?”

Translation: He did not know what it meant, but wanted to offer a suggestion to promote his perception. “What-if” statements are often used to change perceptions. Truth already exists with or without the “what-if.”

Truth really DOES fall in the category of “black and white.” The problem is that many people are not in love with reality so they try to obfuscate* truth. In other words, they tend to ‘muddy the waters’ or ‘deal with gray areas’ or ‘blur the lines’ or ‘use fuzzy reasoning’ (not to be confused with ‘fuzzy logic,’ if you know what that is).

Many people are astoundingly proficient at keeping truth out of focus. Gray areas sell books. Fuzzy thinking is more easily accepted. Blurred lines are more easily followed. Muddy waters obscure the reality beneath, the reality many do not wish to face.

My dad inquired about a toy I was playing with on one occasion. Knowing that it was not mine, he asked me to show him where I had found it:

I stopped and pointed to a place in the grass, but dad asked, “Is this where you found it?”

“No”

Still in ‘our’ yard I stopped and pointed again, but dad asked, “Is this where you found it?”

“No.”

I stepped into the neighbor’s yard and stopped and pointed once more, and again dad asked…

“Yes” (Toy returned to neighbor with apology.)

There was but one reality, the exact spot where I had found the toy. I did not have one reality, dad another, and the neighbor another.

Some questions are very difficult to answer. Yet, truth does not change just because of our clouded perceptions, inability to discern reality, or refusal to accept reality. Truth can be hidden, but in reality, truth is quite simple. So, why do so many people have difficulty with truth? Perhaps they wish to escape from reality!

The most profound truth ever told is that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, deity in the flesh. The Holy Spirit validated that truth when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. God verbally declared that truth at the same event. Jesus acknowledged that truth and did not deny it. All the questions and explanations and perceptions change nothing. Truth IS.

What do you say about the truth of Jesus?

*Obfuscate - To make more difficult to understand. (The word was used to make a point; the sound of the word is much like its meaning.)

What Can 'I' Do?

Not everyone can go overseas as a missionary. Not everyone can give up a successful career to preach. Not everyone is equipped to teach. Christians are not expected to serve in the same way. We really are not all created equal. In fact, not only do we differ in ability, our individual abilities change over time. So, what is expected? The Apostle Paul guides us...

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. —Ephesians 2:10

Before the first disciple began to follow Jesus God had already planned for his people to do good works. In fact, we are crafted by God for the purpose of good works. Good works should be the direct outcome of having been saved by the grace of God.

What a contrast! We formerly walked in “trespasses and sins” (v. 11), but in Christ are equipped to walk in good works! So, what specifically is required?

Have you ever tried to ‘justify’ yourself by asking, “And what good works should I do?” Just listen to Jesus:

"And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward."     --Matthew 10:42

To give something in the name of a disciple is, by extension, giving in the name of the disciple’s teacher. Prior to this verse in Matthew, Jesus had explained that “He who receives you [His disciple], receives Me and he who receives Me, receives Him who sent Me [God].”

So, why would anyone give a cup of cold water? Perhaps it is as simple as this: Someone needs a drink. And that simple kindness is a good work!

That's good, but there's more to say...

In recent years I have watched my parents grow old along with their friends and other Christians of their generation. Their bones are more fragile than before; their bodies are more susceptible to disease and heal slower. They are weaker than they once were, and slower too. They are not as mentally sharp as they once were, and slower too.

Eventually, our ‘seniors’ have to step down as elders, as teachers, as song leaders, as volunteers in various activities, etc. Those who once were the backbone of the congregation now need assistance; more and more as time goes on. There are fewer of their good works as time passes. So, what’s all this ‘senior’ business about?

Prayer!

If you don’t know what else to do (senior or not), pray?

It is not prayer that is so powerful, but our God who listens!

Do you remember how the Apostles handled the request by the Greek widows for assistance (Acts 6)? Seven men were selected to take care of the widows...so that the Apostles could devote their efforts to the Word and to prayer. They understood that prayer was vital.

God has equipped you for good works, whether the simple gift of giving a cool drink of water or the vital work of prayer or anything in between.

What will YOU do?