Cherishing the Imperfect
Since my 14 1/2 year old Jeep Grand Cherokee with 200,000+ miles finally gave out, I broke down (pardon the pun!) and bought a new truck today. Well, it is not exactly new—a 1999 Land Rover Discovery with 138,000 miles. I love this truck (in the "I really enjoy and can't wait to get 'er off road" kind of love). It's in decent condition (doesn't stall every 2 miles like the Jeep), and the price was so low that I could not pass it up. But it is far from perfect. It has dings in the doors, a cracked bumper, worn leather seats and a drooping ceiling cloth (now you know why is didn't cost too much!). Nevertheless, I really, really am thrilled to have this truck. The lesson for me today: it is possible to cherish something that (and someone who) is not perfect. Marriage is like that. Imperfections are everywhere. It is no great secret that I am terribly and deeply flawed (many flaws which in this life will not be fixed), but my wife still loves me. So do my kids. What if I could love like that? Love and cherish imperfect people, not just my Land Rover. Romans 6:8 says, "God demonstrates his love for [me] in this, while [I] was yet a sinner, Jesus died for [me]." What is amazing is that he loved me in my imperfect, sinful condition—then gave Jesus to cover my sin, count me as righteous, and reconcile me to himself that I might experience the fullness of his love and affection. God cherishes me? He is thrilled to have me as his own? Knowing that, and being convinced of that, is the power of grace. It is the kind of grace that affects my heart profoundly, and begins to change me deeply.
Comments [0]