Pondering Perfection

If you've read the posts on my other blog you'll know that I am not perfect. In fact, I have made some very serious mistakes lately.

But God really spoke to me today. I woke up late (again) but tried to take a few minutes for a quiet time. And God honored that. He gave me a "quick and simple" message that really gave me a sense of hope.

As you can tell from my posts on this site, I frequently revolve around the concept of Holiness. I feel that this topic is something that is sorely neglected in our culture.

I struggle with this because I know I'm not holy. I'm not the perfect Christian. I haven't Arrived, so to speak. But God is good. He revealed a little known verse to me today... something that really gave me hope.

Hebrews 10:14 For by that one offering he perfected forever all those whom he is making holy.

What is this telling us? First of all, it is GOD who is making us holy. How does he lead us to this holiness? Through that "one offering". Through obedience to Christ.

In his sacrifice on the cross, I am perfected (spiritually). That is past tense. It is done. Complete. I cannot do, be, think, act, want or try to be better spiritually. I am already perfected. I am not PERFECT, but I am perfected.

A very thin line, but an important distiction. While I may not do perfect things. I think thoughts, act out and disobey. However, I am perfected dispite those things. I am not perfect (in my own power.) But I am perfected (by an outside presence, namely, God).

And I am not Holy.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

No one is. But I am "being made holy." That isn't past tense. It hasn't already happened, but present participle... present and continuous. Each minute of every day, God is working in my life to lead me to that holiness.

It isn't my doing, but God's. I can only obey or disobey. But the holiness is God's to give, not mine to earn. My choice is to obey. Plain and simple.

A parent knows that their children make mistakes. But if you asked a mother if she thought her children were acceptable and loved by her, most mothers would say undoubtedly "YES!"

That's it. God sees me, dispite my mistakes, as perfect. He perfected me in his own sight by his own choice. As I approach him through his Son, Jesus, He CHOOSES to see me as "perfected". There is nothing more I can do or say to change that or improve my standing with him.

But there is a qualifier in this verse. We love to read the "all" without reading the "whom". Read it again: "...whom he is making holy." Are you allowing God to make you holy? Are you letting him clean house, or are you holding on to junk? Of you are allowing God to lead you, you are perfected. Take a moment today to praise him for that.

While I haven't "arrived" I am completely, absolutely, unconditionally loved. And for a brief moment, I was able to revel in that spiritual hug. I needed it today.