In a world of eBay and Google, we understand an intent to locate the perfect. Things once only dreamed about can now be had if one searches far and long enough. Perfection is no longer the ideal, but the expectation. If you doubt this, watch an American in the produce section pick over not just what's truly bad, but anything less than perfect.
And though we acknowledge that no human is perfect, we nonetheless search for something approaching perfection in the people closest to us.
"Nothing, in such a world as this,
can be more foolish than to renounce a friend
because we have found him to be imperfect."
~ Susan Huntington
can be more foolish than to renounce a friend
because we have found him to be imperfect."
~ Susan Huntington
"Perfect Person" actually exists. Whatever attribute we might ask of the perfect friend, the perfect advisor, the perfect mate—honesty, strength, patience, wisdom, understanding, kindness, humility, compassion, selflessness, beauty—all such attributes are found in God.
It's called holiness. We think of holiness as either too sacred to touch or too foreign to appeal. "Holiness" simply means "set apart." The perfection of God is this: His goodness and desirability are so much more beautiful and far above what we might define that they set Him apart from the things of this world.
Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
~ Psalm 29:2 (NKJV)
To locate the Perfect One, we need not search far and long. He is found when we bow our hearts in worship. The beauty of His holiness—His perfect satisfaction for the desires of heart, mind, body, and soul—is most clear when we find a place to shut out the world and look only at Him.
Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Amen, I love to breathe God in, and the world out. It truly renews and refreshes me dear sis. I love you.
ReplyDeleteAt first I bristled at this ... no one's perfect. But as I reflected on your words and logic, it makes "perfect" sense.
ReplyDeleteWhen I live in obedience, wrapped in God's grace, all the things and people around me take on purpose and meaning and they become "perfect" indeed.
Denise ~
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping in here with your sunshine!
David ~
ReplyDeleteOh how you challenge me, yet again.
You read into this a meaning I did not intend. My reference to the Perfect Person was intended for God alone. But the Spirit confirms through your words another meaning I must receive.
(no bristling here, but please allow a small serving of groan with a side of whimper)
beautiful picture...
ReplyDeleteperfected in Him ...
ReplyDeletebeautiful reminder, Anne. I'm so glad that God is perfect and that we are perfected in Him.
ReplyDelete...looked at this post several times already. had to shut out the world before i could make sense of it. my concept of "holiness" was wrong(again!) the: "Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name." the "due" as being heart, soul, mind, and body....yes? liked your last sentence as well as David's take/comment on it.
ReplyDeleteNatasa ~
ReplyDeleteThanks! I was looking for a photo that conveyed "perfect."
Susan ~
ReplyDeleteI wish I didn't need the frequent reminders that the Lord really does see me through the rose-colored glasses of His Son's blood, that in Jesus I am perfect—and that other Christians are too.
(Ryan and) Melanie ~
ReplyDeleteI find "holiness" easier to personalize when I think of God as perfect. For myself, knowing how the Lord sees me is something I can only begin to wrap my mind around when I look at one of my kids.
Bud ~
ReplyDeleteYour concept of holiness isn't necessarily wrong. This is just one way to define holiness, which the Lord showed me as I was listening to the song "Kadosh" by Paul Wilbur. I'd guess you'll understand how the music painted such a visual of beauty that I felt rather than saw.
As for His "due," I recently read something that said the reason we can't do anything good to save us from our sins is because doing good is already our due. He owns it all, heart soul mind body!