Perfection...

Our human idea of perfection is an individual ideology. A big part of our culture right now is the belief that looking a certain way is perfection. Smoother skin, bigger lips, bigger boobs, longer lashes, long hair, short hair, blonde hair, red hair, long nails, short nails, tattoos, eyebrows, tanned skin, not tanned skin, piercings, what to eat, what not to eat, etc. We pump ourselves full of death, fillers, pills, & injections, among other horrid things, just to attain this worlds idea of "perfection".

Then there is the idea that status is perfection; how high they climb on the corporate ladder, how much money is made, the house lived in, the car driven, how much you think you are worth, how much you are envied, how much others want to be you. There is the idea that fame, fortune, popularity, clothes, religion, or politics are perfection. This is a social construct that we have placed on ourselves & others. These things only have meaning because we have decided their importance.

Let me just say that there is nothing wrong with taking care of yourself, having a career, looking nice, having a home, or a nice car, money in the bank, etc. It becomes a problem when we make it our god; when it becomes an idol; when it is the most important thing to us; when we no longer resemble the person God made. When we say things like, "If only I could be like that person, I would be perfect; I would be happy," we are making an idol of man. In Jeremiah 17:5, the LORD say, "Cursed is the one who trust in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD."

I am guilty of all of these things. I have thought all of them. I remember when I was a teenager wishing I looked like & thought like everyone else. I used to hate myself. I wanted to be someone else entirely; to be prettier, thinner, nicer house, better car, more money, idolized, so that I could finally be happy. We see other people that seem to have all that we want; so the idea is to 'do what they do to get what they got'. I was wanting man to complete me, to make me feel ways that I wanted to feel. I went down so many 'holes' to try to feel & be something else. We try so hard to live up the worlds idea of perfection; and we are never satisfied. Earthly perfection is unattainable; its ideals are ever-changing. Every time we think we've gotten close, the bar is just moved further away. The idea of perfection is extreme judgment on self. We live in such a "do not judge" culture, yet we are the most un-righteously judgmental people in time. The LORD GOD does not judge by appearance, yet we have made appearance our god. What we 'look like' to others is more important that what God sees.

What I have seen in people that I have wanted within the last 10 -15 years is the love, peace, & joy that comes with serving Jesus Christ. Those who I can tell truly know Him, & have given their lives to Him. They walk different, talk different, live differently, think differently; they do not live by the rules of this realm. They are not better than anyone, not perfect, just different. They are more kind, more loving, humble, joyful, full of peace. They had "found it," The secret to happiness, & I wanted it!  I wanted that, but I did not know how to get that. There were many that were just pretending to have "found it." Those who had a "form of godliness but no power." I did not know how to get what the real ones had. I tried all the things the fakes ones were doing & telling people to do, yet getting no closer; just more shame & suffering because I could not get it right. We can only begin to change & grow, to "find it" when we start to hear & believe TRUTH with an open heart & mind, even & especially when its hard. Jesus said that TRUTH sets us free. Every time I hear more truth-filled sermons & teachings, the hard things that Jesus talked about, the better I am able to "find it." I want the same things those people have; I want to know Jesus & to live like I know Him. "How can I know this Jesus you serve? How can I have the joy & peace that you have? How can I finally overcome sadness, despair, shame, regret, loneliness, anger, depression, & the like? Why do they not feel as miserable as I do all the time? I want WHO they have!"

I say all of that to say this: Jesus Christ is the epitome of perfection, yet He had none of our earthly conveniences. He did not receive greetings in the marketplace, nor the best seats at the table. He did not have money, nor an earthly home; He was not considered attractive, He was not famous, He did not have a podcast; most people did not really even like Him. His words were offensive, yet filled with life. The religious people looked down on His lifestyle. Jesus picked 12 men & said, "Lets be friends!" He invited them to be His students, to learn from Him. Many people loved Jesus - but more hated Him. Many were intrigued by Him, curious. Some "saw" that He was the Son of God, Messiah. Some refused to see because He did not look the part. But Jesus did not come to play a part, He came to save souls & reconcile us to the Father. Through Jesus Christ alone is the path to God the Father. The LORD says in Jeremiah 17:7, "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him."

Do you know Jesus? Does He know you? Have you placed your confidence in Him? Have you "found it," the secret to Life? Have you found Him?