A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers     

2 Corinthians 10:7, 10, “Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?  If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.  ‘For his letters,’ say they, ‘are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.’”  The faces of 90 famous people who had been photographed by Yousoff Karsh, and included in his book, The Faces Greatness, were carefully analyzed.  According to the study, 70 of the men who posed for Karsh were physically unattractive.  35 had moles, wens, and warts.  13 had noticeable freckles or liver spots.  20 had obvious traces of acne or other pimples.  2 had highly visible facial scars.  Yet these prominent blemishes did not deter them from great accomplishments.  Among this esteemed group was Pablo Picasso, the renowned artist; Thornton Wilder, the great playwright; Richard Rogers, the composer of many popular musicals; and Christian Dior, the honored designer.  Each had imperfections that were obvious to the world.  What might have embarrassed lesser men, merely added character when they posed before the ever-truthful lens of the photographer.  There was no airbrushing or effort to conceal their flaws, but an honest and open portrayal of real people.  In our Scripture lesson today, Paul the apostle shares comments from his critics.  When people would read his epistles, laden with powerful doctrine and profound theology, then meet him in person, they were taken aback by the fact that someone who had such a weak personacould convey such rich written truth.  Yet he was never dissuaded in allowing his physical deficiencies to override his apostolic office.  We are all flawed in one respect or another.  But we must never allow those flaws to hinder us from being used by the Lord for His glory.  In fact, it is even a greater testament to God’s grace to use us, despiteour deficiencies, all for His glory for this and each new day.