10 Oct
Perfect, Shmerfect
Graphic by Josh Ulmer
Not too long ago, I discovered an amazing phenomenon. I learned that I can’t be perfect in everything. Okay, I’ll admit that it’s not really a shocker, but it sort of is to me. Growing up, I always had to be the best, and if I wasn’t, I considered myself a failure. I had to be perfect. Sooner or later the realization hit, though, and I had to admit that no one on earth can be perfect. That’s God’s job.
In Philippians 3, Paul talks of the life for which a Christian should strive, but quickly admits that not even he has it down pat. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
In the dictionary in the back of my Bible, the meaning of “perfect” in that verse includes “reaching a goal.” What is the goal of a Christian life? Is it the goal of perfection or the goal to be like Jesus? Since Jesus is perfect, and we want to be like Jesus, it sounds like the same thing. Yet it isn’t. Worldly perfection changes. It’s based on opinion. A non-Christian might consider themselves perfect even after they take the Lord’s name in vain or covet something they can‘t afford. Even a Christian’s perception of perfection can be skewed. That’s why it’s so important to compare ourselves to Christ, not to the world.
In this journey to Christ-likeness, I’ve often wondered why God wouldn’t just make me “perfect” right now. Why does He allow me to catch glimpses of His flawlessness only occasionally? He wants us to understand and feel dependence on Him. He is after a relationship, not a perfect being. One of my favorite parts of going to see a movie in the theater is watching the previews. If I like what I see in them, it makes me want to see more. In the same way, as God reveals Himself bit by bit, it makes me want more of Him.
Since I can’t be perfect without God’s help, I try to include Him in everything I do, even the little things. For example, chemistry is not my favorite subject. More than once I’ve found my eyes closing while reading about some unit of measurement, and had to ask God just to get me through it. If I can’t seem to get one bar of piano music exactly right, I remind myself, “Why didn’t I go to God in the first place?” I always find it easier to accomplish things when I ask for God’s blessing and help first. So, instead of trying to be a perfectionist, I will persevere in obeying God in every little step on the path to being perfect like His Son.
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About the Author
Carly Bergthold is a 16-year-old homeschooler. She loves just being with friends and family, reading a good book, watching movies, and going to the lake every Tuesday in the summer. Some of her passions are playing flute and piano, writing fun stories or school papers, and her cat, Ypsie. She would love to visit everywhere in the world, but especially Europe and India. You can contact her through Facebook.
