Matthew 7:22 KJV[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Sometimes our heart raises a question that who are these people who say Lord Lord but still unknown to Him. They seem to exercise all the gifts and perform wonders yet couldn't get themselves a recognition from the Lord. Some try to call these people lairs and walk away from this poignant question. On the contrast, apparently, answer might be what Jesus said outright, "their lawlessness".
Many of us walk and live around people who are in ministry and are known as ministers of God, sometimes, including believers. Thus we happened to know some of them much more closely than others. Consequently, their imperfections sometimes becomes visible to us but not to people at large.
We, as humans, are quite quick to judge fellow humans. The moment we find someone in err, we react to it either by commenting before them, only if we have ample courage or by backbiting behind them as cowards. Most end up selecting second option.
And we go as far as possible in our thoughts and even to say, that "How can God use someone like him/her?"
Let's admit this here that NO man is perfect BUT GOD. And this goes same even after your salvafic experience and after receiving gifts of Spirit.
Imperfections are not gonna go away or be cleansed unless and until this body of sin is transformed/glorified.
After having said that every individual is imperfect, we should also grip the fact that this imperfection vary from person to person, depending in their maturity/commitment in Christ as believers.
And when I'm saying believers, I don't exempt ministers from this category, they are also humans, yet to be transformed.
They possess the potential of erring.
And if someone denies and says " I don't" Bible says, such man is but a Lier.
Now due to the imperfections some do mistakes unintended and some do blunders uncontrolled. Church at Corinth was such.
Let's dissect them into three categories;
- Here are the ones that got saved and preserve their salvation by walking a holy life in the guidance of the Holy Spirit daily. Highly dedicated towards the voice of God. Highly sensitive towards an iota of sin. Highly mature and aware of every intended or unintended self-committed err to repent immediately. They examine their lives every moment. They give no/less room to sin. They resist temptation.
- Here are the people who are lukewarm. 50-50 kinda people. They are believers but doesn't take sin seriously. For them idea of perseverance doesn't matter. They deliberately and frequently commit sin and repent as well. They participate in the church and the world simultaneously. They are compromising folks. They don't take doctrine of sanctification seriously. Neither are they sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Of course, they too repent and examine their lives once in a while but that lasts till they are outside of the church compound. They resist sin sometimes but not always. They are Christians but not serious. Yet controlled in some sense as to going as far as third category which is coming shortly.
- Here are the people, known as believers and ministers, who are belligerent and stubborn. They may have lived a good Christian lives initially but are far away from God now. For them the doctrine of sanctification and holiness in life are of no use and seems impractical. They have quenched the Holy Spirit and are away from God's call. They are, of course, found in church as believers and ministry as shepherds but are wolves disguised in sheep skin. They live for Money, power and pleasures. They never repent and stay far from purity.
All of these groups of people are in your church and may be in your family now and are called together as believers.
Bible says the gifts of God are irrevocable. God doesn't take His gifts back that He has once given. These people equally exercise their gifts in ministry and benefit and fascinated onlookers. God works through them but may not in them. Such people never change just as a vessel which could be used to measure, mould, hold or transit gold doesn't turn into gold. Or as a vessel used to cater delicious food doesn't turn into the food it's serving.
In short, God does use the imperfect or impure vessels to get His plan done but it doesn't necessitate the vessels (person) would be preserved or saved unless they get serious about their own lives first.
So next time you hear about such believer or minister don't fret or begin to negatively criticize them.
Often times it could be seen that believers murmur when they see a pastor or a speaker that is mightily used in the public but they know such minister personally as someone who is not faithful to God in some way or involved in some grave sins.
Relatively, some develop resistance or a kind hatred towards the gifts of the Holy Spirit just because they saw some believers or pastors who have either offended them in some way or not perfect themselves but are using those gifts powerfully.
And there are others who think if they listen preachings or get prayed from such imperfect ministers they won't get benefited.
It's completely wrong assumption.
God from the beginning works through human agency. He uses imperfect people to help you and me.
Bible is rich with examples of such men. Who were gravely imperfect but were dynamically used by God, however, whether they are saved or not we better leave that in God's part.
Let's not forget that God used Samson till his last breath yet we don't know about his end fate.
Let's leave every matter of judgment and negative criticism at God's hand and start looking forward to concentrate more on our own lives to make it more purer and cleaner than the past moment, thus preparing ourselves for Lord's return to find HIS recognition.
God bless!!!!
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