Factory Rejects

When we were much younger, my family lived in London for a short while. It was a long time ago, but I still have many beautiful memories of our stay there. While we were there, my mom spent a lot of time and money buying us girls really pretty clothes. I think that’s when I knew how much mom loved clothes. She hasn’t changed much. Lol. Anyway, she got some of them at costly prices from big stores, and she got some really cheap. Something my sisters and I definitely noticed was that some of the cheap clothes had their labels slit in half or even cut off in half. Of course, we asked why. My mom told us that she got them from a factory-rejects store. Surely, we wanted to know more, “Why are they called factory rejects, mommy. They look good.” Mom was patient enough to explain that sometimes, while the clothes were being made, they ran a double stitch over some spots that required just one stitch, or a button may’ve been missing, or just something, anything may have gone wrong; and so big clothing lines like Marks & Spencer, Next, and bhs did not want those “substandard” clothes associated with their products. As a result, they sold them off really cheap. I never went any further to find out if that was indeed why they were called such. All I remember was that the clothes momma got us – pricey or cheap factory rejects – fit us really well and were very beautiful. What the manufacturers considered below standard was very well accepted by mom and us girls. Interesting, isn’t it?

You know, as I read the Bible every time, I come across a number of human factory rejects too. The only difference is that these people who are considered substandard aren’t considered so by their Creator, but by fellow creations. Isn’t it funny that while we – non-manufacturers, non-creators, non-inventors – consider fellow human beings imperfect or inferior, the One who created everyone deems each person good, really good – Genesis 1:31. If you don’t mind, let’s take a look at some of these factory rejects in the Bible. Perhaps, you may relate somehow.

I think my best one so far is the leper Jesus touched. It was such a “hit”, all the synoptic gospel writers thought it very important to share the news (Matthew 8:1-3; Mark 1:40-41; Luke 5:13). Jesus touched a leper? Impossible! No way! Unacceptable! The leper was unclean. Banished. Should be quarantined. Not allowed in public. Should not be touched by any clean person. It wasn’t the people’s fault; the law of Moses said so – Leviticus 5:1,3. Funny thing is that Jesus could have healed that man without touching him. Jesus touched him to make a point. Like the leper, aren’t we going to accept His unconditional love and compassion and begin to see ourselves through His perfect eyes, rather than through the world’s eye? Can’t we also be like Him and reach out to the “substandards” around us too?

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Samaritans are just not acceptable. A little history: they started out as full Israelites, but intermarried with “heathens”, and so became “less of human beings” to the Jews (2 Kings 17:24-29). They were settled in Northern Israel; and that’s where Jesus encountered one – on His way to Galilee (John 4:1-42). Jesus met this Samaritan woman at the well, and asked for some water. So I already mentioned one problem – she was Samaritan. A Jew should not be relating with a Samaritan – no, and not in public (John 4:9_b). Number two problem is that she was a woman. I’m not very sure why that was a problem, but I see in verse 27 that the disciples probably did see a problem there. Third, she was an experienced divorcee still living in adultery. What a lonely, unacceptable life! I read somewhere that in those days, women usually gathered themselves in groups of twenties or thirties to go fetch water in the early hours of the morning or in the evenings. But John records here that this lady was alone at the well. Is it possible that she was rejected by fellow women because she didn’t fit in? Her sinful life didn’t bother our Master, though. He offered her salvation, which she gladly accepted. And Jesus was so excited she got saved that He quickly lost His appetite for food and water (John 4:31-34). What a Savior!

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Zacchaeus, the publican and sinner (Luke 19:1-10); Mary Magdalene, the woman possessed with several demons (Luke 8:1-3); Bartimaeus, the blind man told to shut his yap (Mark 10:46-52); Little children, who Jesus insisted should come to Him (Mark 10:13-14); the lonely impotent man by Bethesda’s pool (John 5:1-16); the adulteress woman condemned to death by stoning (John 8:1-11); the Gadarene demoniac (Luke 8:26-39); and several others more – all these societal rejects enjoyed compassion and acceptance from a faultless, loving, and gracious Savior.

Jesus began to show grace long long before He was born. We saw very unlikely people in His genealogy (Matthew 1:1-17) – Tamar, Judah’s deceptive daughter-in-law who did the abominable just to have children (Genesis 38); Rahab, the Harlot from Jericho (Joshua 2-6); Ruth, the Moabite lady – (wait! A Moabite in Jesus’ lineage? Inconceivable! – Deuteronomy 23:3-6); and Bathsheba, David’s concubine and an adulteress. I believe this was intentional; a perfect way for GOD to introduce Christ’s mission on earth.

I don’t know where or how you may’ve belittled yourself, or how society may’ve considered you less-than-acceptable. I’d like to tell you that your Manufacturer knows that you’re perfect (Hebrews 10:14). He formed & knit you flawlessly in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). He loves you personally to know how many hair strands are on your head (Luke 12:7). He will care for you until your hair is white with age (Isaiah 46:4). His grace covers you. You may be factory rejects to the entire world; to Him, you fit perfectly in the show glass’ mannequin. He showcases you for the world to see. On a signpost right beside you, He writes –

SEE MY WORKMANSHIP (Ephesians 2:10)
SEE MY WONDER (Psalm 139:14)
SEE MY GLORY (2nd Corinthians 3:18)
SEE MY RIGHTEOUSNESS (2nd Corinthians 5:21)
SEE MY BEAUTY (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Isn’t that exhilarating? So, if anyone dares to tell you how not-up-to-standard you are, raise your head and like the ex-impotent man made whole in John 5:11, tell them boldly, “He that made me whole; He that saved me; He that created me, the same said to me, I am of very high value (Luke 12:7; 1^st Corinthians 6:20a). I am accepted in Him (Ephesians 1:6), and that is enough for me!”