Actually, God Can Get Through

Perfect vs Purpose

Painting “First Thanks” by Myra Alibrando

Before the devotional, here is this week’s Nature Narration already broadcast in the Philippines.

We crave perfection, especially in our youth. We want things neat, straightforward, simple, and without error. That is our naïve idea of perfection.

Life is Messy

Death is tragic. Forgiveness is hard. Overcoming shame is so hard. God is not after neat, He is after our salvation, and believe me, it is messy.

Jesus did not give us a mantra to live by or a simple formula. He said “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Ummm, Jesus beat temple vendors with a whip, called Pharisees bad names in public, gave permission to Satan to sift Peter as wheat, and did many wonderful miracles and healed many people and gave his life to pay our debt, but how do I follow that life? It seems messy. Can I just get a mantra?

The Bible is Flawed and Man-Made?

The concept of perfection is subjective and often an enemy of truth. People worry about the critics saying the Bible is flawed, written by mortal men and translated wrong. Then seminaries can train wrong, religious leaders can make mistakes or can be real hypocrites. Mostly true. It’s messy, far from perfect.

God Biggest Problem is Not Ignorance

There is a God who is alive and involved, not only in the affairs of men, but us individually. What is God’s real purpose?

For thousands of years, God’s biggest problem is the heart of man. Solomon, David’s son, had it all plus he was the wisest man that ever lived. There is no record of Solomon committing adultery or murder, but he drifted away from God and never returned. Our hearts are the problem.

God’s Purpose for Us

The Bible reveals that God’s real purpose has always been to lead us to a great relationship with Him. When that happens, everything else falls into place. God can get us through this messy life and our messy ideas and our messy world and bring us to an enlightenment leading to wisdom that grows, a healed heart that heals other hearts, contagious joy, peace of mind and a resurrection to see for ourselves God’s original plan for life without sin, disease, poverty, sadness, or death. In a word, it is all about relationship. Imperfect people misunderstanding a holy God desiring a relationship with us, made possible by a very messy, ugly crucifixion.

Are We Lost Without the Perfect Bible?

With the Bible translated to more than 3,000 languages and dialects, plus 300-400 English translations alone, the quest is cannot be “the perfect Bible”. The quest is a real relationship with the living God who promises He will guide us. If He is alive and keeps His promises, we are fine. The Bible is a wonderful tool. It is a means to an end. God’s end is God’s purpose, and that purpose is you in relationship with Him. No need to fear the wrong translation, fear having the wrong heart.

My Wife Wants Me to Clarify

My wife was concerned that some readers may think I am saying the Bible is not perfect. That is not my message. I have never been more confident in the Bible as I am now. I have never been so comfortable believing the Bible 100%, even if I don’t understand it all.

I read many translations, sometimes side by side. Occasionally, there are dramatically different interpretations by the translators. This does not worry me. I trust God to lead me. I trust Jesus to finish the work He has begun in me.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Can I add to that list, that even wrong translations cannot separate us from the love of God? None of our parents are perfect and none know it all, but still, most of us rightfully trust our parents.

With God, my assumption is I’m the one not understanding everything. How could I? But the last book of the Bible is not called “Hidden” it is called “Revelation” because God reveals truth to us.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16

Notice it does not say “correctly translated scripture” is profitable, but rather ALL scripture. All scripture is profitable when the Holy Spirit is joined to an honest, sincere heart, humbly trusting God to guide. I’ve experienced this over and over again.

What is God’s real purpose? Aren’t you curious about that more than anything else?

I hope this helps some of you. Have a great week seeking and discovering.

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