Imperfections

Sanctuary Dedication Service, Southwest Baptist. 1/29/17

Last week I spent just about every waking minute trying to get this pulpit ready for today. Amazingly, Brother T. C. Garret built this from scratch in a little over one week. Elaborate with details.

I picked it up Friday a week ago and was just able to get it finished by about 6:00PM yesterday.

As I worked on finishing this pulpit, I found a few flaws. And as I finished it, I created a few flaws. No doubt the flaws were probably because of the haste with which it was built and the near panic finishing that I performed.

As I sanded and puttied and sanded some more, God began to speak to me.

I began to think about all of the work we have had done leading up to this service today, and in all of the work there have been flaws, some minor and some pretty drastic.

We worked with our builder to fix the big ones, but no job is perfect and I am sure if you look hard enough, you will still find a few flaws.

The word that God was speaking to me is that, just as the building work or this pulpit are flawed, we too are flawed.

As Christians, we strive to be Christ like in our daily lives. But as long as we are in the flesh, no matter how hard we try, there will still be flaws.

Some are obvious, such as a hot temper or a critical spirit. Others, however, are more difficult to spot, such as envy or conceit or jealousy or a spirit of lust.

Just as I have covered many of the flaws in this pulpit, we can be pretty good at covering our own flaws.

We may think that no one knows our flaws; however, nothing is hidden from God. He sees all of the areas of our lives that are less than perfect, and yet he loves us still.

“While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”

Then God gave me another revelation. Even with its flaws, this pulpit will still serve its purpose.

The word of God will still be preached from it and it will stand up to some pounding from time to time.

This Sanctuary and building that we dedicate today, with all of its flaws will still serve its purpose. It is a house of God where the members of this Body of Christ will gather together to worship in spirit and in truth.

God willing, this facility will be a lighthouse to this community, even with all of its imperfections.

Then God gave me on final revelation. Even though we are flawed, even though we are weak, even though we are prone to make mistakes, if we are surrendered to God, we will still serve our purpose for His glory.

That begs the question, what is our purpose?

First and foremost, we are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. When we do this, we begin to conform our lives to the image of Christ.

My prayer will be “let your will be done in my life, as it is in Heaven.” My daily life will include time with my Lord.

I will set aside time to read and enjoy His Word. I will worship Him with my conduct, my thought life, and my speech.

Second, I will love my neighbor as myself. If I love God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, then I will have a heart for the lost, just as Jesus did.

That love will compel me to share my testimony with others about what God has done for me.

It will compel me to work with this Body of Christ to reach the lost for their salvation and God’s glory.

It will give me a desire to gather together with this Body of believers to be discipled and to minister to my brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Love of Christ will compel me to set aside my wants and desires in order that I might “take up my cross daily” to seek and to save that which is lost.

Today, we are perched on the cusp of a new beginning for Southwest Baptist Church.

God has blessed us with awesome facilities and in His foreknowledge, He has placed us in the midst of a growing population. The fields are truly white for harvest.

God is beginning to gather the workers for the harvest. If we follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we will be a part of a great Kingdom work.

I ask you to make a covenant with God today, to be a part of the work we are doing here.

As we dedicate this Sanctuary, I would ask you to also dedicate your heart to the Worship and work that will be done here.