The Importance of Not Being "Perfect"

Perfect- what comes to your mind when you hear that word?

I think of many things....

I think of (especially here in Southern California),  people who have just the right clothes, their hair is absolutely perfect, perfectly dyed, perfectly styled, never one hair out of place, and they don't even know the meaning of frizzy or flat.  I think of flawless skin and makeup, of bodies that have been to the gym and look just right, not once bit of body fat, but on the other hand, not too skinny either.

I think of people's other qualities- radiant, confident, sociable.

And then there is of course being successful in this worlds eyes.  Having a nice house, a nice car, a great wardrobe.  And somehow being able to hold it all together.

Even in our Christian faith there is a concept of perfect.  We can try to be a perfect Christian, and to many this looks like following a set of rules, don't smoke, don't drink, etc., you probably know all the rules better than me.

But I think what we have forgotten in all of this is the heart.

Scripture says:

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

There is I think often, such a preoccupation with trying to get all this right that we forget the most important qualities of all:  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness,Gentleness, Self-Control

I think it is important to remind people that we will never be perfect.  I think it is important as Christians to not assume that we will look just right.  That we will never say, "Follow me, I have it all together."

Rather, what is important is to say, Don't look at me.  I will fail you.  I will stumble.  I will fall.  I am only human.  Rather, look to the Lord, for it is in Him alone that you will stand.

The pressure of needing to be perfect is too much, and pretty much guaranteed we will all fail.  But if we can instead have the focus being on Christ, of being discipled by him, eventually we will get to the place where we will mirror His heart to a lost world, who needs His love, His grace, and yes, His guiding, correcting hand.

So today, it is nice to know, that I am not perfect, and that the Lord knows I am but dust and He doesn't expect that of me.  Rather, I want to fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.  And hopefully after drawing close to Him for years and years, and after choosing to "take every thought captive" to His Word, I will be able to reach out to others, and hopefully they will see just a glimpse of the beauty of Jesus in my life.

But my goal cannot be the outward, the external.  Rather, my goal needs to be being discipled by Jesus, having my heart changed by being with him in the every moments of life, while I do my dishes, while I do the laundry, while I solve fights between two toddlers, while I try to train my children to wisdom (when I don't know how much I have myself).

We are all pilgrims on this journey.  There will not be any perfection for any of us here on earth.  The only perfect one is our Lord.  It is freeing, it allows us to truly be ourselves, to rest in Him, and to run for the prize until we finally reach our one true home, heaven.