Perfect is a word that is rarely used in relation to people. Most of the time it is used referring to the phrase that “nobody is perfect.” That is a very true statement. Most of the time when people use this phrase they are talking about themselves. They’ve made some bonehead decisions that they don’t want people to hold them accountable for. We want people to overlook our imperfections and allow us some freedom to fail.
At the beginning of creation, God created man in his own image. An image of perfection. Man and woman were perfect. Everything was perfect. Man did not have to labor for food. There would have been no fear of snakes, (boy, would I love that one), and no thorns or thistles. Can you imagine picking a rose and not having to be careful to avoid thorns? Every aspect of God’s creation was “PERFECT.”
Genesis 3:16-19 “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow, thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam, he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast has eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
Never again will we experience perfection this side of Heaven. Oh, we may have days of sublime rest where all seems right with the world, but it really isn’t. Our moment of what we call perfection feels like perfection because it is so much better than anything we’ve known, but all we have for comparison is imperfect.
We can’t imagine what real perfection is because we have never seen it. I Corinthians 13:9 – 10 says, that what we know is only partial knowledge. We don’t have the complete picture. Have you ever tried to put a puzzle together where pieces are missing? You struggle to find the right piece to fit. You begin through the process of elimination to find the piece. You make two piles, one you’ve tried, and one you’re picking from. Finally, you pick up the last piece. You are so excited because this must be the one, only to find that your 500-piece puzzle has 499 pieces! We, like the puzzle, are missing some pieces when it comes to the future and perfection.
I Corinthians 13:9-10 “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”
On this side of Heaven, we can only see glimpses of who God is. We look at creation and see the beauty he has displayed for us to enjoy. I love to do oil paintings, but as hard as I can try, the paintings cannot capture the beauty God paints in creation. His creation displays beauty all around, and he is constantly changing it, which shows His limitless power. But this creation is still not perfect. Man was made in His image and was once perfect until man sinned. We express unique pieces of Him, but none of us are a complete likeness of Him.
In I Corinthians 13:10, we see that one day there will be perfection again. I Corinthians 13:12 gives us the analogy of looking into a mirror. Every mirror is a little different, some make you look distorted. Some, because of age, don’t reflect brightly. However, when we get to Heaven, we will see him face to face. Sin will no longer taint the way we look at things. Perfection will replace imperfection. We will see everything in a different light. The light of the Son of God. All the old will pass away. Our partial knowledge is imperfect and fragmented. Then, it will give way to something better than we’ve ever dreamed of. I am so ready for this time of perfection. When I think about what it will be like to see the one who died for me face to face, I can’t fathom the joy and gratitude I will feel. For me, living in a perfect world and being perfect, still can’t compare with seeing the perfect one, Jesus, face to face.
I Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
