Imperfect Preachers

There was only one perfect preacher - the Son of God. All others who have declared the truth of God have been flawed men. Once this is recognized, we come to see more clearly the power that God has placed in His Word to bring about salvation. The messengers are imperfect, but the message is perfect and is able to convert the soul.

I think back to one of the great preachers of the Old Testament, Isaiah. He admitted that he was not what he ought to be. On that occasion when he saw the Lord, high and lifted up, he said, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips" (Isaiah 6:5). Despite his confessed sinfulness, the Lord removed his guilt and used him as an instrument to take away the guilt of others. Much to the credit of Isaiah, when God asked, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Isaiah quickly responded by saying, ''Here am I! Send me." God might have employed archangels or seraphim to proclaim forgiveness to sinners, but instead of that, He chose a forgiven sinner.

Does it startle you that God used Peter on the day of Pentecost to proclaim forgiveness? A few short days before, Peter had denied the Lord and had wept bitterly. He was a man standing in need of forgiveness but God selected him to preach the message of forgiveness to others.

Saul of Tarsus was one of the most active forces of his day against Christ, and confessed that he was the chief of sinners. Yet none became more powerful in declaring the sweet message of grace. Once again, we see that God placed the perfect message in the hands of an imperfect man. This man later said, "Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." The gospel truly is in earthen vessels.

Never think for one moment that you should not declare the truth of others because you have been sinful. The church got started in Jerusalem through the preaching of sinful men, and it has made progress through the centuries in the very same way.

In fact, I think there is something very attractive in God choosing sinful, forgiven men in sharing His grace with others.

John Gipson