Failed But Not Finished - 10
Not Fit For the Scrap Heap - Matthew 12 Verse 20
As we continue our series we will look at the next message entitled "Failed but not Finished". I wonder, do you remember that teacher at school who "wrote you off". You could never do mathematics. Perhaps history dates seemed to make no sense at all. Or geography…you didn’t know where Kathmandu was, and it didn’t seem to matter very much either. But that teacher had no feeling or sympathy: "You’ll never make the grade!" was the favourite expression, and you went home feeling a total failure. Oh, your friends seemed able to handle it all right, but it was just beyond you. You didn’t get much encouragement from your father and mother, either…they knew that you had your problems, but they didn’t help much.
Perhaps it’s followed you through life…you’ve made a mess of your marriage, or being a parent just hasn’t worked out. Your job has proved too much for you, or you’re always falling out with your friends, and in your heart of hearts you know it’s your fault. You try not to think about it too much, but you just can’t help wondering if there’s any future in life at all. I mean, what hope is there for a man or woman who can’t handle a simple relationship! In fact, as you think about it, every-one seems to have written you off! Well, I’m here to tell you of One who hasn’t! God hasn’t written you off!
We have called our Discovery Series "Failed but not Finished", but it could just as well be called "The God who hasn’t written you off"! Can I remind you of the first talk in the series? It was of the potter who took the marred pot off the wheel, crumbled the clay into a ball, and started all over again, making a brand new pot, with wonderful care and skill, and The Great Potter of the Lives of Men and Women is still doing it!
Today I want to tell you about "the great potter", the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Perfect Man who ever lived. And, of course, He was God as well as Man! In Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 12 and verse 20 He says that He "will not break a bruised reed, nor put out a smoking flax". What do you think He meant? Listen carefully because it’s so encouraging. We will look at this verse under two headings, No Discarding and No Despising.
No Discarding
The picture is of the Eastern boy or man, cutting a strong, but hollow reed from the water’s edge, shaping it and cutting it in just the right way, so that when the owner puts it to his lips it plays a clear and melodious tune. He takes it with him everywhere, he plays his tunes as he watches his sheep, or as he fishes at the water’s edge. As he walks over the fields and the hills, the little pipe is his constant companion; people passing by are quite amazed at the lovely tunes he gets out of a little reed. He has become quite attached to it. Then it happens…with no warning…it was by his side as he lay on the grassy slope, in the warm after-noon sun, and he just put his hand out. It was quite a casual movement, one which he could have done a hundred times without any accident. This time it was different. His hand rested heavily on the little flute, and when he picked it up, it was all bruised. It looked quite forlorn … it was useless. Oh, he tried to blow through it, but nothing happened, there was no sound, no tune, no melody. "Now", says Jesus, in effect; "I know that in normal life the man or the boy will just throw it away and cut another one. This one is only fit for the scrap heap. No-one can do anything with a bruised reed, they just get rid of it. Well, I’m not going to do that. I’m going to take that reed in my powerful, yet gentle hand, and I’m going to make it again. I’m going to do what others wouldn’t do; give it another chance". And as he looks at you with all your mistakes and problems, your failures and difficulties, your sins and short-comings, He says "I’m not throwing you on the scrap-heap of life; I will take you into My powerful hands, and with love and care I’ll make you again. Your life will play sweet music for My glory. Will you hand yourself over to Me?" And that’s not all, for as well as "No Discarding", there is also …
No Despising
The next illustration is similar, but there are differences. It’s a picture of the old oil lamp, so familiar in Bible times, as it lights up the humble cottage. Suddenly the light flickers, splutters, and then it smokes! And it smells. There’s only reasonable thing to do, that’s put it out, throw the wick away and fit a new one. "Well" says Jesus "the smouldering wick I will not snuff out. I’ll trim it, care for it, and get it going again so that it will give light to the darkened room".
Do you feel that the light of your life is just like that spluttering, smoking wick. It’s not giving light and comfort to those around you. Quite the opposite, you feel that you’re just a nuisance, and people would be glad to see the back of you. Well, again I’ve an encouraging message for you, because Christ says that He isn’t in the business of despising those who have made a mess of their lives. He wants to take you with your smouldering wick, trim it, encourage it into a flame, fill you with the oil of His Holy Spirit and make you really useful for Him.
As you listen to this programme you may be saying "Oh, that sounds all right, but how is He going to do it?
How do I know that He can do it? How do I know that He wants to do it?" The Bible answers just those questions, and many more like it. Paul talks about "the One who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3 verse 20) and he wrote to the Philippian Christians to tell them "it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose" (Philippians 2 verse 13). Are you prepared to put yourself into the hands of the One who is able to "give you another chance"; the One who has the power to fulfil every promise He makes. Don’t pass up this opportunity, bring your broken reed to Him for repair, so that once again you can play a tune which will bring pleasure and joy to the people around you, and glory to the God who made you and saved you. Bring your smouldering lamp to the One who is willing and able to trim the wick, fill the bowl with the fullness of His Holy Spirit, and make you a bright light for Him.
Why should you be satisfied with the second best, when God is willing and able to do so much more in your Life? He told all of us who claim to know Him personally that we are to be "lights in the world". He is waiting for you to turn to Him in your need, and allow Him to re-make your life, so that you can shine brightly for Him.