Lance White, played by Tom Selleck, is one of my favorite characters on the Rockford Files. A PI, like Jim, he is the perfect antithesis to Rockford. For example, Jim takes the bullet when he and Lance get into a gunfight, the last shot fired before Lance tells them "drop your guns and come out with your hands up!", much like in an old western. And they do. After shooting Jim. When they team up to rescue a millionaire's kidnapped daughter, Jim catches the kidnapper while Lance rescues the daughter, who falls in love with him. Her father then signs over his multi-million dollar company to them as a wedding present. And when a bystander comments on Lance's character, Jim agrees, saying "Lance is perfect, it's his only flaw."
And we all know people like Lance in our lives, at work, school, or church-who always seem to do the right thing, sometimes without knowing it. As kids they never had braces, could wear white and not get dirty, and you got sick of hearing "why can't you be more like him?" from your parents. As adults they let someone with one item in front of them in line at the market, and end up being the 10,000th customer and winning a shopping spree, when the guy ahead really could use the food and this is their first visit to that store. They are always in style, they always have the right haircut, clothes, and car-and end up marrying someone just as obnoxious-at least to those of us whose only podium finish was second place in a two man race. They have 401k's that went up last year when everyone else's failed. Their bikes never fail to start, and they actually get vacation time to ride them, in between trips to their house on the Big island, or visiting the south of France. You never sit by them in a storm, because they never get hit by electricity, you will. Never buy a lottery ticket after them-you'll miss by one number, and their only saving grace is when they are single, you get the leftovers when the girls come looking for him-but will only date you to get to him. The female Lance's aren't much better, perfect hair, head cheerleader, and didn't date in high school-their beau was some Lance at an Ivy League school, and she was saving herself for him. They can wear mini-skirts into their 40's, and when someone sees them who hasn't for a while, always greets them with "you look just like you did in high school." And sadly they do. Tee hee!
And at church, these are always the ones who never seem to have problems. They do all the right things, not to be seen, but because it is expected of them. Seems when they were handing out raincoats, they got nice ones. Trouble never knocks at their door, and trials seem minimal if at all. It always seems to visit the guy in the pew next to them. And I used to be spiteful or hateful towards them-it didn't seem right that they had it all, for no apparent reason, and guys like me didn't. But I was wrong, and as I get closer to God, find their good fortune can work against them, and my misfortune for my benefit. Don't stop here. I haven't lost my mind, yet. 2Corinthians 12 tells us that when we are weakest, God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. The Lances miss out in their relationship with God, because in their strength they never get to know Him as well as those of us who constantly have to go to Him. There are joys they never get to know because of lack of tribulation. It is in our lowliness that we get to know God, and seek Him with all our heart. And Matthew 25 tells us about the double blessings of this relationship. Many just take up space in church and never get to know God-and when it comes to their heavenly reward are told "be gone, I never knew you." Not bad people, just not saved. And sadly they never knew Him. Maybe about Him, but there is a difference. But Jesus then talks of five points that grow and bless us. One-If I had never been hungry, and thankful for a diet of hot dogs and fried potatoes, I never would have reached out to God. Who fed me, and then gave me compassion to feed those who are hungry-spiritually and bodily. Two-If I hadn't spent time in the desert-thirsty, I never would have sought Him for relief, and then never reached out to others just as thirsty. Three-If loved ones had never been in jail, I would never have begged God for mercy for them, and having been shown it, now equip others in jail with the gospel, because He changed my heart. And now uses me to help change their's. Four-without being sick and in the hospital-I never would have reached out for a friend, and God was there, so now I visit others and see the blessings He gave me being given to them through me. Five-of course the best is last, when I was lost and a stranger, He took me in, as I am and saved me, taking a stranger and making me His friend. And instilling in me the desire to see others come to Christ. All actions a blessing when He blessed me, and then continuing because He blesses others through me. A relationship, that because of Lance's flaw of perfection he will never get to enjoy.
You may know a Lance, or even be one. And those of us blessed by tribulation don't know the loneliness they experience. I ask God to have us reach out to these seemingly perfect ones, in love. They just may be envious of you, after listening to your testimony, and wondering why they aren't as blessed as you. Seek them out, and invite them next time you go to the hospital, or jail. Let them distribute food to the poor, or feed the hungry. Perfection may be the stumbling block they need to overcome to be used of God. And He will give them a testimony that can reach out to other Lances, everywhere.
You see Lance wasn't perfect, only Jesus was, and is. He took the bullet for you. And only when you look into His face do you see perfection. And about those raincoats, He has one for you, just your size and color. A perfect fit, that never goes out of style. Maybe, just maybe Paul was right when he called our setbacks "momentary , slight afflictions." His pain is our gain. And for eternity we get to be perfect. Somehow now it all makes sense. I wonder if Jim is home, I'd like to share this with him, and Lance.
"Hello this Jim Rockford, at the tone leave your name and number and I'll get back to you." BEEP! "Hey Jimmy, don't hang up, I 'm a friend of Lance's, just like you...when can we get together to talk about real perfection?"
I hope he calls back. Pick up the phone to Jesus now. No answering machines here-just answers. He waiting for your call.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
ps to Ken K.-you and your ministry inspired me to write this