"I'm not perfect." - Bethany Turner

I love to read! I especially love to read inspiring stories of men and women who not only did great things for God, but were beautiful people. Not just nice, but Christ-like! It awakens a yearning in my own heart for such a character. Reading the story of John Hyde (“Praying Hyde”), missionary to India, especially stirred my soul. The account spoke of this man’s deep heart longing for souls, of the many nights he pled with God on his knees, “Give me souls, or I die.” His peers were almost horrified by his selfless generosity. He gave away things he badly needed to provide another’s want ? even when the person in question was an ungrateful thief!

Is character like that hereditary? And for those not born with it, is it an unattainable, that we will be gifted with when Jesus comes?

What does the Bible tell us?

By Paul we are challenged, “Let us go on unto perfection!” and through his pen again, the promise was given, “Sin shall not have dominion over you.” (Hebrews 6:1; Romans 6:14)

David proudly parades God’s children before us, with the words, “They also do no iniquity, they walk in His ways.” (Psalm 119:3) They don’t do any wrong! What kind of testimony is that?

But the words of Christ Himself in Matthew chapters 5 and 6 are most challenging. The Pharisees (the church leaders of His day) were accusing Christ of destroying the law. Here He met their charge head on by showing that the claims of the law were much deeper than they imagined. He showed them that the law not only condemned their wrong actions, but their most private thoughts of lust or hate.

He concluded his solemn dissertation with the incredible words, “Be ye therefore perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

Well now, I'm not perfect, are you? Impossible, right?

Well how about, “Love your enemies”? Can you manage that? What did Jesus say about impossibilities?

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

With God the impossible is not beyond our reach! Indeed, He “is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless...” (Jude 1:24)

What rich promises! Precious words of hope!

Why is it then that we find so many Christians who are impatient, selfish, sensitive or proud? Why then, do we struggle so much with our own pet sins and faults?

The answer is that we need to be reconverted. Can we say with Paul, “I die daily”? And here we find what this answer must mean to our pet sins ? death. Death to our desires and fleshly inclinations. (1 Corinthians 15:31)

But here is where the problem lies. The omnipotent God is not lacking in power to set us set us free from the dominion of sin. But too often when He comes to set us free, to give us victory in this battle with evil, he finds us on the enemy’s side! We don't really want to be delivered!

I have experienced this exactly. There have been times when my husband has done something that upset me. Feelings of irritation have welled up. And then, there has been that quiet, soft voice whispering, “It is wrong to be angry ? just give Me those feelings!” And you know, I have realized a struggle ? that I wanted to be upset, to nurse my hurt. I delight to be able to share, though, that every time I have surrendered those wrong feelings, the struggle has been less. And God does remove those wrong feelings and replace them with His love, forgiveness and perfect peace.

This is what surrender is all about: giving God the right to remove sins from our life that we love! He won’t do it unless we give Him permission.
Jesus spoke of this when he said, “If thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee.” Matthew 5:30, R.V

Thus Jesus represents how difficult giving up inclinations and desires is for the human heart - but how necessary! To prevent disease from spreading, we would be willing to part even with our right hand. Much more should we be willing to surrender that which imperils the life of the soul.

“For it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish,” He says, “and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:30)
This is the other option. We cannot take our cherished sins with us into heaven. If we will not consent to have them “cut out” we will perish with them.

But this is hard. Is it too hard? Will we falter and turn back as we see the cross proffered?

Let us “look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith!” How did He conquer the dread of death? “Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame...” (Hebrews 12:2)

Jesus fixed His attention on the end result of His suffering. We may do this also. And what is the result that we may fix our faith and hope on?

God will so change us that we will be able to say with Job, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept and not declined.” (Job 23:10, 11)

We will be able to say with Paul, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me...” (Galatians 2:22)

And when Jesus returns to claim His faithful children, we will be able to say with confidence, “This is our God, we have waited for Him and He will save us.” (Isaiah 25:9)

Choices

Choosing to die to wrong feelings,
Christ's Spirit not to grieve.
Choosing to let opinions go,
All wrong thoughts must leave!
These are the choices God's children make.
Christ's Spirit dwells within.
Only in His abundant Life,
Do we find freedom from sin.

Copyright (c) 1996 by Elizabeth Kessler

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