Perfect People

By Lori Scharf

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“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24, ESV)

If there’s anything I’ve learned over the last few months, its that there’s no such thing as perfect people.

One part of growing up is the sad realization that everyone, even those who you hold in the highest regard, is flawed. As Romans 3 tells us, all have sinned, and not one of us is righteous.

The truth is, we’re all fallen, broken people. You can hide your brokenness behind a plastic façade, but that doesn’t stop your hurt.

The good news is, God already knows we aren’t perfect. He sees every chip, every crack, every bit of pain you try to hide.

Yet, He still chooses us!

God, the most perfect being the universe, chose our broken, fallen, flawed, and sinful race to be his children and carry out His will.

Moses was a murderer. Jacob was a liar and a cheat. Rehab was a harlot. Paul was a persecutor of Christians.

The Bible is full of examples of imperfect people that God used, because we as humans are all flawed.

But God doesn’t need you to be perfect to use you! All you need is a willing heart to obey Him and follow his good will, wherever that takes you.

That doesn’t mean we won’t make mistakes. Moses struck the stone, even through God had commanded him to speak to it. David committed adultery. Peter denied knowing Jesus.

Did that stop God from using them? Not at all!

Moses helped his people escape the Egyptians and guided them through the wilderness. Rehab helped the Israelites take Jericho. David was called the king after God’s own heart. Paul became perhaps the most influential Christian in history.

You see, God works through us not only in spite of our imperfections, but sometimes through them. With his help, we can learn from our mistakes and become better versions of ourselves and more perfect imitations of Christ.

But as imperfect people, we can never be worthy of heaven.

God is perfect, thus He cannot dwell with imperfection. That’s why we need Jesus, the only perfect man who ever lived. Without the blood of Jesus to was away our sins and imperfection, we would be doomed to spent eternity separated from God.

“When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’.” (Matthew 19:25-26, ESV)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8, ESV)

Now I’m just a beggar in the presence of a King
I wish I could bring so much more
But if it’s true, You use broken things
Then here I am Lord, I’m all Yours

–Broken Things, Matthew West