According to the New World Dictionary, the word perfection means, “The quality of condition of being perfect; extreme degree of excellence according to a given standard.”
The standard of world trade production has fallen to an all time low when it comes to the development and distribution of quality goods. How many times have you bought something only to find that checks and balances in quality control fell short of the standard for which you were willing to pay? It was either broken, pieces missing, holes didn't line up, or the materials used were so far below standards that you ended up taking the item back, because it was junk.
I’ve always tried to choose the box that was not dented, and from the back of the shelf in order to find one that I didn’t have to take back, because something wasn’t right. I thought it was my lot to always pick the wrong box; “Just my luck,” I always said. But watching other people in return lines and listening to their conversations, I realized that it’s not just me that faces the take-back-blues; it’s most everyone standing in line. The quality of merchandise is shamefully missing—seldom there. The workmanship and fabrication is extremely inferior to the craftsmanship that my dad saw in his day.
The luck of the draw may have something to do with me getting home with a good item, but I am convinced that perfection has fallen short of its mark. Pride was once the motivating factor of good business, but now quantity in production matters most. The standards throughout the industries have disgustingly declined.
It’s the standard of perfection that’s missing. The likelihood of a consumer getting a good product is becoming less frequent. But there is one standard for living that never changes. It exceeds even the highest of standards that some businesses still consider important. It’s the standard of God. A person need not worry if God is going to change from day to day, because of conditions and circumstances. His standard is constant, unvarying, and never changing. It is God’s perfection at its highest.
When God does something He does it well. He does it according to His own standards for which He Himself has set as quality. On the sixth day, we read in the Bible, God ended His work of creating light, the earth, the seas, the heavens and all living creatures, including Adam and Eve.
(Genesis 1:31) “Then God saw every thing that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”
(Genesis 2:2-3) “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.” vs.3 “Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”
God was very pleased with the work He had completed. He walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and communed with them in the cool of the evening; He loved them. God has not stopped loving mankind.
He put special skills and aptitudes in each of us that pleased Him. We needn’t feel inferior to anyone, because God gave each of us special qualities and talents. When we wish that we were like someone else we cease to be the person that God intended us to be. He saw perfection in our mother’s womb, because He gave us our own uniqueness. He said, “It is good!” When God says something is good, believe Him.
We are special to God. He is pleased with us as we follow after His statutes and abide by His Commandments. We needn’t be like anyone else in the world, just ourselves. What could be better than this? God does all things well. We are made perfect through Jesus Christ, because Jesus is God’s standard for perfection. God sees every Christian as perfect through His Son.
Problems arise when a person bases everything on feelings. Feelings do not reflect the reality of truth. Feelings can be deceiving if they are used to gage the depth of one’s spirituality. Our perception of truth can be distorted depending upon the way truth is viewed. When a person allows this perception of feelings to rule their life, satisfaction exits and dissatisfaction begins to take hold. Things aren’t always as they seem or feel.
If we could see ourselves as God sees us, we would understand the depth of His satisfaction and pleasure. We would see the true meaning of love that God has for us. He is proud of who we are. To try and change into someone else that we are not is like saying to God, “You didn’t know what you were doing when you made me!” He made us in His image.
(Genesis 1:26-27), “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ ” vs.27 “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them”
Learning to love one-self can be a tremendous psychological hurdle. When we do, it helps satisfy feelings of inadequacy that try to creep in when every day experiences happen. There will always be someone a little better than we are, with more abilities and capacities to do certain things that we are unable to do. Does this make you or me less of a person in God’s eyes? A thousand times, No!
Let us consider these questions: Do you feel somewhat timid when trying to witness to others about the love that Jesus has for them? Do you ever feel inadequate, because you feel that you are not measuring up to your own self expectations of being a Christian? Do you feel dejected and disheartened in your own abilities when looking at other powerful Christians and the work they do for God? Do you feel that you are falling short of the “required quota” of souls that you suppose God expects you to win in your lifetime? Do you feel unqualified or inept to speak up for the cause of Christ in a group of unbelievers? Do you feel that your life as a Christian fails to reflect and measure up to God’s attributes enough to affect others around you? Do you feel like giving up on God when being persecuted by friends or family members for your belief?
If you notice, each question hinges on a single word—the word, feel. Feelings can be deceptive in nature if used to gage the depth of spirituality. With this in mind, to feel that I didn’t touch a person’s heart when I witnessed to them, because they didn’t bow their head and ask Jesus into their heart right then, does not mean I failed in my attempt to influence that person for Christ. We need to walk by faith, and not by sight or feelings.
(Hebrews 11:1) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
We can share information about the Lord and give our personal testimony of how God made a difference in our life, but we have to realize once and for all that it is not you or me that does the transforming work in people’s lives. It is God! The Holy Spirit draws them to God; He does the rest. You and I cannot save their soul.
We are used of God to sow the seed of truth, or perhaps water the seed that someone else has already planted, but we must never feel that we failed in our attempt of sharing the good news about Jesus. Things are not always as they seem at times. We can not base our success on feelings.
If the devil can discourage a Believer by pointing out their short comings in areas where they feel the weakest, he will do so. If he can shut up the flow of truth; enabling him more opportunities to deceive and destroy another life, he will do just that.
Christians are the salt of the earth. Their witnessing provides the savor that is missing in the lives of people that are bland and lacking flavor. It’s the love-ingredient, through Christ, that makes the difference in their life.
Christians are not an island to themselves. They influence everyone around them. “What kind of influence,” you might ask? I would hope the kind that is worthy of the name Christian, without feelings of inadequacy and short comings; the kind of influence that others see and want. I believe that Christians are the light that is so desperately needed in a world of darkness. They make a difference in people when feelings of insufficiency are left at the altar.
If one soul is touched by their influence and makes it into heaven, all of heaven rejoices, because of that one soul. Never think that you have failed if only one person was changed due to your love and caring nature. We need not compare ourselves to Billy Graham that has won thousands to Jesus every year. The one soul that repents of their sins is as important to God as the thousands that were saved under Billy Graham’s ministry.
We do make a difference! As we stand tall with our heads lifted high in the Army of God, this world’s population will be touched for Christ, one by one. The power to witness is within every Christian. We need only to exercise this power and then believe God for the increase of souls.
The word Christian means Christ-like. Let us not waiver in our understanding that we, as Christians, have the power of God within us to help others. Christians must act upon this knowledge to win souls for Christ without negative feelings hindering their witness. Actions and results are based upon the Word of God, not on what we think or feel.
Jesus said in (Matthew , 42), “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. vs.42 “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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