The Pursuit of God's Perfection
Today, we gather in shared understanding, a common knowledge that permeates our human experience: we are all imperfect. We might laugh about it, acknowledging that perhaps the only time we come close to perfection is when we fill out a job application, neatly glossing over our flaws in order to present our best selves.
Yet, this awareness of our imperfection, while sometimes leading to a gentle self-deprecating humor, can also generate profound anxiety. This becomes especially evident when we consider our relationship with God, who is perfect in every sense. In various Psalms, we are reminded that God is upright and just. His ways, unlike ours, are perfect.
Standing before such perfection, we might feel the sting of inadequacy. We could even see ourselves as flawed, weak, or fundamentally incapable of approaching God's perfection. But the Scriptures do not leave us in despair. In Matthew 5:48, we hear the voice of Jesus, clear and resonant from the Sermon on the Mount, urging us to "be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect!"
How can this be? How can imperfect beings like us hope to reach such lofty heights? Let us find comfort and guidance in Psalms 18 verse 32, where the Psalmist declares with assurance, "God arms me with strength."
This verse points to the liberating truth: the perfect God, the creator of heaven and earth, wants to make us perfect. He has not only shown us the way, but has also equipped us for this journey towards perfection. He trains us and enables us, not from a distance, but intimately and directly through His son, Jesus Christ.
The Letter to the Hebrews enriches this profound revelation. In Hebrews 2 verse 10, we find that God made Jesus perfect through what he suffered. This verse doesn't shy away from the reality of suffering in our pursuit of perfection. In the divine design, it is through suffering, through our trials and tribulations, that we are refined and made holy, just as Jesus, the author of salvation, was crowned perfect through His sufferings.
Again, in Hebrews 12, we are urged to "run with perseverance", with our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Our faith, in this context, is not a passive, stagnant state but a dynamic, persistent race. And the goal of this race is Jesus, the one who makes us perfect.
In Greek, the word translated as "perfect" can also mean "complete". This linguistic nuance is vital. While our ultimate completion lies in the kingdom of God, during our earthly sojourn, we are called to seek God's perfection. This journey involves focusing our gaze on Jesus, giving Him glory in all circumstances of life, and growing into the full stature of Christ.
Hebrews 11 presents a gallery of heroes of faith. These men and women were not perfect by human standards. They were flawed, just like us, but they lived by faith, looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Their faith-filled lives remind us that their actions did not make them perfect. They were commended for their faith, but they did not receive the full reward. It is together with us, people of faith from all generations, that they will be made perfect.
Let me share a story from my personal experience that beautifully illustrates this point. Several years ago, my wife and I were privileged to help a church in Latvia, situated in a refurbished old casino. This church was a beacon of hope in a community grappling with poverty and despair. They held afternoon coffee events for the less fortunate, coupled with Bible talks and meals. Over time, many people came, drawn by the warmth and the promise of a nourishing meal.
This congregation consisted of individuals with diverse backgrounds, some burdened by a troubled past, others simply struggling to make ends meet. They were not perfect. But their hearts were open, and they were receptive to God's word. Despite their challenging circumstances, many of them chose to be baptized, and their lives bore the unmistakable imprint of transformative faith.
This kind of deep, resilient faith is not confined to Latvia. In the United Kingdom, there are Iranian refugees who have nothing tangible to hold onto except their faith. Their faith often shines brightly, demonstrating that true wealth is not determined by material possessions.
As individuals living in the developed world, we are surrounded by material abundance. But we must ask ourselves: Do these material possessions help us perfect our faith, or do they distract and entangle us, steering us away from the path of perfection?
The Bible warns us about the spiritual hazards of wealth. In the parable of the rich young man, we are reminded that mere adherence to the law does not make us perfect. The young man, despite his meticulous observance of the commandments, was unable to part with his wealth to follow Jesus. He was a living example of Jesus' words, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
We might not be wealthy in the same way as the rich young man, but each one of us has something that gets in the way of fixing our sight on Jesus. It could be an unhealthy habit, a damaging relationship, a distracting ambition, or an unchecked obsession. Identifying these roadblocks is the first step towards overcoming them.
Yet, even as we strive to overcome our weaknesses, we should not despair when we fall short. The Apostle Paul grappled with a 'thorn in the flesh', a persistent weakness that he begged God to remove. But God told him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
The acknowledgment of our weakness, rather than being a cause for despair, can serve as a catalyst for spiritual growth. It prompts us to lean more heavily on Jesus, to rely on His grace, which is perfected in our weakness. So, be encouraged, dear reader. Our Lord understands our weakness and has made a way for us to approach the throne of grace with confidence.
Michael J Fox, an accomplished actor who now lives with Parkinson's disease, has said, "I'm careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for. Perfection is God's business." This statement, while it came from a secular context, resonates deeply with the spiritual journey we are discussing.
Our pursuit of perfection is not about being flawless. It's about striving for excellence in our faith and actions, knowing that God will complete the good work He has begun in us. As we align our lives with the values of the kingdom — values such as truth, honor, righteousness, purity, love, and admiration, as outlined in Philippians 4:8 — God will crown our efforts with His peace.
As we conclude, let us remember these words from Hebrews 13:20-21: "May the God of peace who, through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ."
Our journey towards perfection is not a solitary one. It is a journey made in communion with God, through Jesus, our great shepherd. Even as we strive and stumble, we are equipped with everything we need to do His will.
In our pursuit of perfection let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, being assured that the same God who made Jesus perfect through suffering will also lead us to perfection, not by our strength, but by His grace and power. Amen.
