Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in
– from “Anthem” by Leonard Cohen
For how long have we thought that the secret to a useful life was a perfect offering? We would get ourselves together, offer ourselves to God and make an impact for Christ. These were the kinds of people who were always held up as examples — you know, the ones with all their bells ringing.
How we disqualify ourselves for any kind of effectiveness in someone else’s life because we are not perfect yet. “When I get it together, then God can use me.” How we excuse ourselves from service because of our own brokenness.
How we falsely elevate those around us who apparently do have it together. Not good for them, and certainly not good for us. But we do it anyway. We like to believe that someone, somewhere is getting it right, so that someday soon, we might too.
But what if everyone’s broken? What if there’s a crack in everything? And even more important, what if that is the whole point?
“But we have this treasure (the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ) in jars of clay (ordinary cracked? clay pots) to show (make it obvious) that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Yes, the crack let’s the light in, as Leonard Cohen suggests, but it also lets the light out so that the real source of the power can be seen.
So you see if we try to be perfect, or simply anything other than what we are, we work against the purposes of God. If God wanted someone perfect, he’d make someone perfect, but for now, it appears He wants to use us broken things.
Remember, it’s not your ability, but your availability that counts.
John Fischer The Catch 
Thanks for going over this again, slowly, and with large type. I think, maybe, I’m starting to catch on. And yes, I’ve read on a bit farther in the chapter where it says that our momentary, light affliction is producing a weight of glory far greater than we can imagine. Because what is not seen is far more real than the things that we see.
Now, I must say, I don’t know Paul was thinking when he said “light”, “momentary” troubles. Beatings, jail, shipwreck? Divorce, business and financial trouble, kids getting in trouble, bad health. Maybe it’s all for the same purpose, just in a different form.
Thx Pastor John for today’s Catch, got a lot out of it and this: “If God wanted someone perfect, he’d make someone perfect, but for now, it appears He wants to use us broken things.” Glory to God and praise His name that He would even want to use me, a broken man – again what a sooo very cool Lord we serve… His love & grace makes me feel whole… 🙂
PS brother Tim C you & yours are in my thoughts & prayers.
We have made celebrities out of images of Christians that we think have “made it”. But they are not real, Then when they fall we become disappointed and feel betrayed. The truth is they were “fallen” all the time.
I do think it is okay to be inspired by others and encouraged in our walk by the good things other Christians do. It is when we hold them up to unrealistic expectations and worship the image of them we have created in our minds that we set ourselves up for disenchantment.
I heard speeches from # one soul winners and all kinds of Christian hero’s. We parade them around until they even start to believe the hype.
Finding out someone isn’t exactly who or what we have built them up to be feels like the first time you heard your dad use a bad word.
I don’t want to make excuses for sin in our lives but I don’t want to pretend it doesn’t exist either.
I may not be happy or proud of all the cracks in my pot or how they got there, but neither do I want to hide them.
I like what you said, “Yes, the crack let’s the light in, as Leonard Cohen suggests, but it also lets the light out so that the real source of the power can be seen.”
How true. Actually when these great examples fall, it’s really a good thing. They find out… we find out… the truth and God gets the glory.
I learn for the things you write and sometimes it surprises me how much I grow because of it. I wish I could send you more money but it just isn’t there right now. I sent more then I intended to when you first asked because I felt lead to do so. I’m on social security and I’ve gone back to school to teach. (I was more pushed than lead in that direction.) I wish you and your family well and will continue to pray for you.