The Human Body
God has created each one of us to be unique—to be special. A friend who’s going through cancer pointed out to me the miracle of the human body. Our bodies, he pointed out have trillions of cells in them. And that 50-70 billion new cells are being created each day. Consider your body at this moment. It may seem rather static. Other than your blood flowing and a little gurgling in your stomach, you may think it’s just sitting there without much activity. But in reality, every second, there are trillions of movements inside each of our bodies. Each one of our trillions of cells is made up of billions of components and 100 trillion atoms. Every millisecond, even as you doze off (hopefully not while reading this) trillions of movements and actions are happening.
Things are rotating, moving, communicating, assembling, disassembling, building, electrical charges are being transmitted and accomplishing work. Every cell is like a complex factory, or perhaps even more accurately, like another universe inside your body. Our God is amazingly intelligent and wise in what He has designed!
Jesus’ Body
Understanding this, it is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can create, because God’s purpose is not intended to demonstrate His creative abilities, rather it is to make us one with Himself. What shines forth and reveals God in our lives is not based upon our uniqueness or giftings, but rather our genuine, living relationship with Jesus. Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is not physical, but rather relational.
Love is the key. The perfection God seeks is not one of cells and atoms, but of a relationship with Him that shows itself to be true even amid the seemingly unimportant aspects of human life. We need to grasp that the miracles in God’s creation, including our bodies are only intended to draw us to Himself. We are called to have a relationship with Him. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God’s purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He wants.
The OPEN Body
As we continue to press ahead in our work, it’s important to remember He’s made you unique and you provide a special service in the work you do for Him and for OPEN. But it’s most important to remember this is all for the purpose of fulfilling our work/assignments in relationship with Him. In Him, we are made for Him.
PATRICK LAI and his family have worked in SE Asia for over 37 years. His experience in doing business with Jesus has brought him to understand the meaning of work and worship in the marketplace. He started 14 businesses in four countries, six of which are still operating. Patrick and his wife, May, mentor and coach businesspeople working where there are few or no Christians. Check out Patrick’s latest book, Workship, now available in paperback and e-book.