Have you ever felt frustrated that you fall short of your expectations? You may have thought “If only I were (fill in the blank: thinner, richer, stronger, smarter, popular, etc.). But what if your life was as it should be? Think about it – what if everything that is happening to you is happening for a purpose and for your good? How would that affect your perspective if you really believed that was true – I mean you REALLY believed it!

The Apostle Paul had a desire that He would know the fullness of life in Christ and that he would be free from his fleshly desires. He knew that he was in Christ and he wanted his thoughts and behaviors to reflect that truth. Paul was also deeply aware that he had not arrived,

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

When you realize that you’re not all that God wants you to be, but you’re seeking to follow Him, then life is exactly as it should be – you could even say it’s perfect. That makes us feel uncomfortable – we can always think of something that needs to be changed before we feel “perfect” – but what does the Bible say?

Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; (Philippians 3:15)

The word translated “perfect” has the idea of bringing to completion – it is as it should be. Think of a toddler, she may be able to walk and talk but she can’t run a marathon or quote Shakespeare. But she can do what a toddler is expected to do – she is “perfect” for her age. We see this concept of the believer’s perfection in several places in the New Testament,

And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:4)

Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

Paul is teaching us the “perfection of imperfection”. Paul realized he was not what he wanted to be, but he was pressing on to know the fullness of life in Christ. Robert Browning wrote, “man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for.” He is teaching us that to achieve anything worthwhile, a person should attempt even those things that may turn out to be impossible. Your goal should be just out of reach, but not out of sight. Your quest to know Christ serves as an impetus to transcend your finite limitations. If you don’t make the time to create the life that you want, you’re going to spend time dealing with a life you don’t want.

Do you feel imperfect? As long as you’re pressing on to know Jesus ­– then life is perfect – it is as it should be! People who think that they have “arrived” are actually the ones who are imperfect. Conversely, those who see their need “to press on” to know Jesus because of their imperfection are actually the ones who are perfect in their mindset.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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