So, You Want to be Perfect?
So, you want to be perfect? How’s that going for you? Unfortunately, many struggle with being a perfectionist. They want to be perfect at everything they do, or at least, appear to be so. Unfortunately, the more a person attempts to be perfect, the further away from perfection he or she becomes. Perfection is impossible with everyone; except One. His name is Yeshua, Jesus. He is the only Person on the planet Who was, and is perfect.
Colossians 2:9-10 For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power.
Colossians 1:27-28 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
It is important to understand our perfection is only found in Jesus Christ. Apart from Him, we’re incomplete. In fact, those without Him will never experience what it means to feel whole. It is rather difficult to feel it when there is a God-sized hole in one’s heart. Our perfection is positional in nature. It cannot be obtained by our efforts. It must be received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
You Cannot Perfect Perfection
When a person tries to perfect perfection, if you will, he enters into the realm of pride, or operates out of pain. Perhaps, both. Pride is an obvious culprit, which was present at the Fall (see Genesis 3:1-7). Some fail to recognize their drive comes from wounds they suffered. It’s the compensation caper.
Sometimes, pride will team up with pain. How many people set out to prove they are not worthless to those who belittled them? Perhaps, they experienced rejection from a parent, because they did not perform up to his or her expectations. Maybe their peers never welcomed them into their inner circle, because they were considered losers for whatever reason. Pride will harness the power of the emotions, while pain will harness the power of pride to suppress those emotions.
Even though some may have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they have yet to embrace their new identity in Him. Thus, they try to create an identity made in the image of their imagination. In some cases, they try to do extra credit in order to be “good Christians.” Often, they become self-righteous.
As a sidenote, it’s easy to feel resentment toward those who fall under the self-righteous category. Ironically, one might detour into self-righteousness themselves, as they find themselves judging those who judge others. Think about that one. That being said, perhaps, it would better to err on the side of compassion. Deep down, many of them suffering, need healing, but do not recognize it. Self-righteousness is all about feeling superior to others in order to mask the real them. Hello, hypocrisy!
Basically, they fall in the works trap, which have no real value, even though others may benefit. It’s not based on love; it is based on approval from others. They want to be admired; therefore, it is inward focused. That’s an easy one to fall into. The question is, who are they actually seeking to glorify?
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing (NASB).
Why do Christians seek glory, when they already have it in Jesus Christ. In fact, He actually gave His glory to those who belong to Him.
Romans 8:30 Moreover whom He did predestinate, them he also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.
John 17:22 And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.
When a person works for it, seeking perfection on their terms, they fall from grace.
Galatians 3:2-3 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
