Based on Luke 7:18-29 (New King James Version)
“Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ When the men had come to Him, they said, ‘John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ ’ And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.’ When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’ For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.’ And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.”
One might wonder, how could John the Baptist not have been sure that Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, the Messiah? Was it not this same John who baptized him in the Jordan, who saw the Holy Spirit descend upon him, and who even heard the voice of God Himself publicly testifying that this was His beloved Son? What happened to him from that moment until the moment when he sent his disciples to ask him? There is an answer that justifies John, and that also gives us great relief. Despite the fact that John was the greatest among all the prophets, he was still a human being, and that means that he was imperfect, that he had weaknesses that he continued to deal until the day he breathed his last breath.
The matter of following the Lord, and finding favor with the Most High was never about perfection. We have great examples in history that give us these indications, great men who achieved the grace of God, and who were very special and precious beings for God. For example, Abraham was not perfect. He made mistakes. But, that did not interfere with him being the father of faith, and that God himself called him His friend. Moses was not perfect, but that did not interfere with him being in the presence of the Lord of Hosts, who was able to see God face to face, and who will also come at the end times and be one of the two witnesses that God will use to help His people Israel turn to Christ. And what can we say about King David? David was not perfect. He made mistakes too. But that did not interfere with God Himself saying that He had found this David who was like His own heart, and that He would do everything He wanted, and also, that this same David would have the great privilege that the Messiah would be his descendant, because the Messiah had to be the Son of David. These men were not perfect, they made mistakes, but they not only found grace before the Eternal God, but they achieved great things that will last for all eternity for the glory of God, but also, for their eternal benefit, which they are enjoying at this very moment.
So, what can we understand through this? That God never imposed the weight of perfection on man. That was never His will because He Himself knows that we are weak, limited, and of course, very imperfect. This was the great error of the religious, and it continues to be the error of every person who assumes that what God seeks is perfection. It is true that Christ died so that we might be transformed, changed, to be new creatures in Him, to stop doing that which produces death, and to do works worthy of His kingdom. God is interested in what we do. But, there is something beyond that God is looking for, and that it is of course something genuine and from the heart, and not just from the mouth, and that is what helps us find grace before God, the same grace that these great men we mentioned found before, and the same thing that will help us to do what God wants, to do His will. God wants us to love Him above all things. This is the true will of God. This is what the Lord himself said: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:34-39. And we read this also: “Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’ Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’ So the scribe said to Him, ‘Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’” Mark 12:28-34a. So, it must be very clear to us that what God is looking for in us is that we love Him and that we give Him the place that He deserves, first place, and that we treat Him as the Lord that He is. This is what Abraham, Moses, David, and also, John the Baptist had in common, and John even gave up his own life to do what God commanded him to do and he fulfilled his ministry, because he loved God more than his own life.
Therefore, through this is that we understand that in faith there is room for our imperfections, that it is possible for us to make mistakes (never an abuse of God’s grace because God will judge that), but that there must be something immovable within us, that we love God above all things, and that we treat him as the Lord that He should be in our lives, seeking to do His will and not ours. In this way we will find grace before God, through Jesus Christ, and we will be able to do His will on earth, which will give us access to His eternal kingdom. This last thing is what God will use to judge us: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10. So then, what does God see in your heart for Him? Lord bless! John