Imperfect people: never beyond hope
J.I Packer & Nystrom Carol, England, UK: Kingsway Publications, 2000. 174 pages.
Hopelessness causes despair, depression and lastly death. In a season when the world has experienced its worst pandemic of the modern times, people have become accustomed to bad news and wrong expectations have become inevitable. Packer seems to have a glimpse into this day when he wrote his book, the imperfect people. He has authored the best-selling ‘The Unknown God’, an introduction to doctrine book. He explores the topic of hope using eight examples of some well-known Bible characters. This review focuses on the topic of hope which he seemed to see our present times writing as though foretelling on us.
Hopelessness, he writes, “is the root of many of today’s psychological disorders, as the growing frequency of random killings and suicides among us seems to show” (2000, 7). Suicide seems to have been an issue in the beginning of the 2000, which caused him to make those statements. This drew my heart to the many numbers of cases that have been making headlines of suicide before the outbreak of a bigger pandemic than suicide since two years ago. Just like in his times, we try to hide our condition, yet the unfocused rage, fury and hatred of life we feel works like acid, dissolving all other feelings into purest bitterness. Hen money meant for projects lands into a few politicians’ pockets it makes us feel in a tunnel that has no light at the end, but more darkness and a wall at the end. Is there any anticipation, can our children, parents or our society find anything to help them stand? Packer and Carolyn tell us that hope is what looks forward to the fulfilment of the promises of God (2000, 11). Contrasting it with optimism, he says that ‘it is a wish without a warrant’ (2000,11). Through the biblical characters, we see that though they failed in one way or another, God would still use them.
Samson provides a glimpse into this discussion as he had several issues that made him look incapable of any man’s assistance. His heart was drawn to various things which were wrong; his flawed temper, his flawed sexuality, his unbridled sense of humor (2000, 23-26). He lived a comic flawed life that would have warranted God’s judgment. He had a long way to go in fact, before we could call him perfect. Like many of us are, he had a calling but his character failed him, strong on the outside but weak in the inside (2000,30). However, there was hope in the story of Samson when God uses him despite his flaws. What is sure for us today is that we can critique our own desires, discipline our thoughts and change our attitudes as we look to Jesus to deal with our inner struggles. Indeed, there is hope that if God used a man full of flaws, he can use us too when we surrender to him.
Jacob’s grandfather having to wait for more than twenty years for Isaac, to his mother being barren, and now his sibling rivals with Esau are pointers to a catastrophic life. There seemed to be no hope for the offspring of these families from human’s perspective. God had to deal with Jacob, who later carried the heritage that God promised to Abraham, of many sons. He took upon the name of Israel, to fulfil God’s plan of multiplication to Abraham.
Manoah’s wife struggles with her testimony not being trusted by her beloved husband. The experience she got with the angel who announced the good news of the arrival of their son Samson was phenomenal. Her character is contrasted with that of her husband’s pomposity. She is calm, trusting and a faithful wife. Her husband is manipulative and controlling and irate. Her role was to show her husband that God could be trusted at his word (2000, 60-64).
Jonah’s story reveals how God’s imperfect servants are useful tools when He takes control over them (2002, 72). Packer postulates that God had to teach him obedience and compassion (2000, 85). Martha’s story is an example of being busy with all the other things except having devotional times with the Lord (2000, 96). As Packer notes, ‘situational responsibilities are not to be ignored for devotional exercises any more than vice versa’ (2000, 97). She was still useful in her weaknesses and it is a story of hope to some who may seem too bossy to receive help.
Thomas is mentioned as one disciple who naturally doubted the resurrection story despite Jesus having told them that he would resurrect from the dead on the third day. He not only doubted the story but the evidence too. He was doubtful, stressed about life and prideful, a position he had become too comfortable with yet with Jesus b his side (2000, 128). Simon Peter’s known story was one where he was a natural leader, loyal, spiritually alert and willing to try out his faith and as if he was not worthy of the kingdom (2000, 151). However, God transformed him and used his life for the sake of the Early Church.
Finally, Nehemiah is seen as a zealous politician whose actions equaled his prayers. However, he seems to have had an issue with anger, as he evicted Tobias and the Sabbath traders, tore the hair of the Jewish men with pagan families (2000, 168-9). However, God uses this imperfect vessel to bring back the reforms needed to be forerunner of the returnees from Babylonian exile.
Application
The book has focused on the eight figures who were icons in their days and did not leave the faulty tendencies which in many ways could have acted as barriers to God using them. The issues that are raised act as examples to us who could find ourselves in cheer discouragement and often disqualify ourselves from being useful vessels in the Kingdom of God. This devotional is much needed for many who may be feeling the weight of the current issues. What applies to me is that there is hope that though I seem to be inept in a few of the highlighted areas, yet God’s grace is sufficient for me and shall raise me up when I trust him.
Conclusion.
An observed effect of depression is loss of power to believe that any good awaits you. You feel a misfit or an outsider or a failure. It can also attack your faith and total trust in God’s love for you which is free in spite of what you can or can’t do. This book helps one to have the joy of salvation restored to them as a Christian. It is my hope that in the midst of trying moments that we are facing, our personal inadequacies will not be added onto the pressures of the day and throw us into the deep ends. We have a living hope and this we must carry to the rest of the hurting world.
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