I was talking to someone the other day and the issue of being perfect came up. Wow, what a topic. This may be one of the big reasons why people either choose to not serve God or give up trying. We know that scripture tells us to be perfect even as God is perfect, and I can’t help but wonder if what we are understanding here is different than what God intended. After all, aren’t Christians supposed to be perfect? Well, that is the impression we often put on ourselves, and it is many times the reason people give for not committing to follow Jesus seeing imperfect Christians and declaring them as hypocrites. Is it possible for us to be perfect? Even with Gods help? Well, I venture to say that on this side of heaven it is virtually impossible to be perfect as we ascribe perfection. So, if our understanding about perfection is wrong, then what should it be? I’m glad you asked.
Several months ago, well maybe a year or so ago, our Pastor, Pastor Craig Andrus, tackled this very issue and had a very good way of explaining it. He used an example from his personal life to make his point, and it was a powerful point I might say. He spoke of how they had loaned their camping trailer to some friends for a short period of time, and how that when they returned it they didn’t mention anything about one of the manual cranks for leveling it being broken. When they went to use it a short time later is when it was discovered that this manual crank mechanism had been broken. Understandably he was a bit frustrated, but he began to see if there was a way he could fix it enough to do the job. He was successful in finding a way to repair it enough to work, but it didn’t look pretty. It did not look like it had from the factory, and it definitely didn’t look perfect as it was not accurately aligned to the rest of the molding on the side of the trailer, but it did the job it was intended to perfectly. The point he made was that while the crank wasn’t perfect as we would measure perfection, it was perfect in that it could perform its intended purpose perfectly. He later related that to us in that while we may not be perfect as we understand perfection, if we are performing the tasks that God has created and planned for us to do perfectly as He intended, then we are in essence perfect in His sight.
So, what has God created and planned for us to do perfectly? Simply, to serve Him with everything within us, with all our strength, mind, body, soul and strength. Also, it is to be His ambassadors to a lost and dying world, using our giftings and talents for His purposes and the Kingdom of God, and not so much for our own desires and agendas. The question is then asked, are you perfect in His sight? Or, are you giving Him less than your all and best, and using the gifts and talents He’s given you more for your own purposes and agendas than for His? Are you more concerned about building yourself and your “kingdom” than you are about building His? Just some things to think about. I trust that you will, as I often times do, re-evaluate where you stand with this and if God could honestly say you are perfect in His sight. None of us are perfect, and I would be the first to admit that I’m not and that I have a lot to learn as I strive to be more like Christ, but can we be perfect in fulfilling the purposes God has uniquely planned for each and every one of us? I believe we can be, and that is my aim and goal. How about you???????
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Copyright 2012 – John Johansson
