Wednesday, January 26, 2011

God Can Still Use Messed-up Christians Like Us

"I WISH I COULD HAVE A DO-OVER"
If you could go back in time then is there anything about your life you would do differently?  Most people would like to have another chance to avoid mistakes and rechart a course for a much easier existence.  But our lives as born-again believers in Jesus Christ ought to be more focused on things above and less on things below.  Having an easier life ought not to be our driving goal.  When we're in heaven I don't think we'll wish we spent more time watching tv, playing video games, bowling, surfing the web, or working.  Rather, most of us will probably say, "I wish I spent more time with God, more time in prayer, in His Word."  But despite how much time we've wasted in the past, God can still use us.  It's not too late.  We may be severely disappointed with ourselves and messed up in small or significant ways, wasting many precious years of life. But God can still use us.  We may even have had setbacks in life that were beyond our doing but God still has a purpose for our existence.

A CHRISTIAN'S GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THIS LIFE IS TO HAVE A RIGHT ATTITUDE.
An attitude is an accomplishment?  Really?  Yes indeed!  But we really can't take much credit for having a right attitude.  The Christian life is all about the process of being transformed more and more into the image of Christ.  He must increase, we must decrease.  It's called progressive sanctification.  If we're obediently reading His Word and guided by the Holy Spirit of God in our lives then we will, indubitably (I love that word), become more conformed into Christ likeness.  A right attitude emerges only when we're submissive to God.   So what, exactly, is the right attitude?  Let's glean a lesson from David in the Old Testament.

A CHRISTIAN WITH A RIGHT ATTITUDE WILL SEEK TO HAVE A RIGHT REPUTATION
King David had a burning desire to build the Temple for God; "Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains (1 Chron 17:1b)."  God told David, sorry bud, but you're not the one who will build me the Temple because you're a man with blood on your hands (1 Chron 28:3 - paraphrase mine). David came to a point in his life where he realized he wanted to be more useful to God and build Him a great Temple that would be "of fame and of glory throughout all countries" (1 Chron 22:5).  But God told him it was too late. David already built a reputation of bloodshed.  God was looking for "a man of rest" to build the Temple. David had messed up his life too much for this task. So God bypassed David and chose his son, Solomon, to build the holy structure.

Reading this account in 1 Chronicles reminded me of D.L. Moody who had quite a reputation for being non-controversial.  He avoided getting entangled in useless bickering and, instead, focused on winning souls to Christ.  Preaching the Gospel, of course, can be controversial.  But telling the lost world how to be saved is needful.  It's okay to be controversial when preaching the Gospel, as long as we preach it in love.  But how many of us get caught up in unnecessary controversy?  How many are known for our conservative political positions?  How many are known for our desire to make this world a more moral place?  Dare I even ask how many have a reputation that brings dishonor to God?  Our attitudes should reflect a desire for a good reputation.

A CHRISTIAN WITH A RIGHT ATTITUDE WILL SEEK TO BE HELPFUL
Anyone who runs seriously for political office realizes that the task can't be accomplished without supporters.  Supporters are needed to help plan the campaign, place signs around town, and stand at the street corners waving at passing drivers. 
Realizing that he would not be the head honcho to build the Temple, David didn't just crawl into his bed and sulk. He decided to be a helper.  He gave Solomon the plans, the materials, the treasures, and great encouragement; "Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord" (1 Chron 28:20).

If you've missed the boat somehow and can't do what you hoped you could do with your life then are you sulking about it or are you helping to accomplish that which is needful?  Have you given up or have you decided to help?  One of the greatest places where you could help is within your local church.

A CHRISTIAN WITH A RIGHT ATTITUDE WILL SEEK TO GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY
After the initial disappointment, David came to the realization that it didn't matter if he wasn't playing the lead role.  He had to ask himself; is it more important that I be the one calling all the shots or that I bring glory to God?  David realized it was more important that God get the glory.  He got himself on board to help make the Temple to "be exceeding magnifical" (1 Chron 22:5).  His eyes became fixed on the big picture, the end result.
When things don't go your way, when life brings you sorrow, do you just give up?  Or, do you brush away your pride and decide to give God your all so He can be glorified?

THE WHOLE POINT . . .
If God has put you humbly in your place, if your grandiose plans have been thwarted then just realize that God still loves you.  You can still be helpful.  And most importantly, you can still bring glory to God.