Main Title: What is Wrong With You?

By Pastor Michael Magbag

Scripture:

Ephesians 2:10
New International Version (NIV)

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Have you noticed defects in yourself?

Do you wish you looked, talked, sounded or acted differently than what you normally do?

Have you found yourself consistently daydreaming that you are as physically attractive as the model on a magazine cover?

Or as eloquent as your friend who’s a renowned speaker?

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you were a math wizard, or could speak 10 languages?

If you were some kind of genius with an IQ of 150?

But then reality kicks in. You see that really you are made with a few defects that you think hinder you from living the best life. And you ask the Lord: "Why didn't you make me perfect like the others? Why do I have all of these flaws? WHY?"

Believe it or not, everyone, even those whom you perceive as perfect, share this very same dilemma. But beyond the physical imperfections, the hardest thing to battle is our emotional, mental and spiritual flaws. We have experienced life and been damaged by life, people and experiences. We have entertained various thoughts of self-rejection, self-hatred, self-pity and unforgiveness. These thoughts only make it harder for us to realize who we are and why we are special.

The truth is, we are good.  But we are also sinful, broken, and hurting. When we are introduced to Jesus, we see the messiness of our life, and we learn how Jesus looks at us in spite of that mess. We bring our lives to Jesus and we’re "born again." We still look the same on the outside, but the physical dissatisfaction fades away from the beauty of being saved from sin ON THE INSIDE. We sing, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."(Psalms 139:14)

Here a new problem begins. We hoped that this new life in Jesus would completely remove all evidence of the old. Yet there remains some of those personal problems and weaknesses. “Lord, why not take it all? Why do you not just change me completely so that I am perfect, complete and mature?

But the Lord responds like this, “If I took everything out of your life and you were perfect, without any defects, your pride would separate us. I choose to leave some things in your life so that you will depend on me, every day.”

That is really where it is at. With no problems, you likely would have no prayer life. No problems? You likely would be quite self-centered. There are obviously some things wrong with me and you, and we will never be perfect. But that makes us need to trust in the Lord with all our heart every day. In trusting, we overcome. You may never be perfect but you can overcome in Jesus.
Happy Imperfection!!!