I may have already written a post with this same title at some time in the past, although I can’t remember for sure. I keep seeing these ads for Lexus on Twitter and this is their slogan “Pursuit of Perfection.” And because I see these ads frequently, it is causing me to think about Jesus words at the end of His sermon on the Mount. In this passage, He essentially clarifies what the letter of the Mosaic Law was intended to do…and how we, as fallen/fleshly people, constantly, whether deliberately or unintentionally, end up misunderstanding what God’s commands are. Ultimately, Jesus basically reveals that the Law is not simply about the actions of the mind and body, but also about the intentions of the heart. I have always found this passage to be so full of wisdom (granted, everything Jesus says is utterly wise…omniscience can have that impact on a person). The particular statement that I want to focus on, and one that has caused me to really reflect upon is when he says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your Father in Heaven is perfect.”
So, whenever I see the ad for Lexus, I am immediately reminded of this verse and the call that Jesus places upon us. That is quite a command…and one that ought not be simply glossed over but ought to be carefully evaluated. As I thought about this, two main things came into my mind…they can be summed up like this: ‘That is impossible,’ and ‘Jesus would never command us of something that were truly impossible.’ So I came to wrestle with these seemingly contradictory thoughts in my head that were stemming from this passage. I really began to think about the process of sanctification and how Paul writes in Philippians that he is confident that “He who began a good work in [us] will be faithful to carry it out to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” I struggled because the very adjective “perfect” requires that whatever is “perfect” must be in that state forever (at least as I understand perfection). So, seeing as I have sinned, I can never be truly perfect because of my past. Now, this is the beauty of the grace of God. I have been made blameless and I know that God’s strength is made perfect in my weakness. So although perfection is unattainable, it can be realized in my life if I am made to be perfect by the only Being who is truly perfect. He, therefore, is the one who defines perfection and can make perfection out of that which is imperfect. I do believe also that this passage is referring to sinlessness (if He is calling us to be perfect in other areas there is no hope for me…I am not arrogant enough to believe that I am the epitome of physical perfection!!) I began to consider the fact that the perfection that Christ is calling us to live up to is not maybe perfection as I have defined it, but as God sees it. [Aside: I think often times, many of the difficulties we have with understanding who God is and what His Word claims stem from us trying to understand an infinite and eternal God with our limited, finite minds...and we also try to define Him with the terms we understand and definitions we have with words rather than letting the text inform our understanding and definitions of who He is and what He is saying...okay, back to the focus] As I began to think about the possibility and simultaneous impossibility of living out the command that Jesus is giving, there were some other verses came into my mind. The first was in another passage where Jesus says, “With man, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” and a passage in Philippians 4 where Paul states, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Neither of these passages are directly related to this passage, but the truths within them are very applicable and have been very practical in my understanding of this particular verse.
Ultimately, our pursuit of perfection is destined to fail if we pursue perfection in and of itself. It is just like when we try to break the bonds of sin or bad habits simply through determination…we are destined to fail. We will not be able to have success until we pursue Him. It is through Christ that we are able to do that which is impossible. We can pursue perfection, but not by pursuing perfection as the ultimate end, but rather by pursuing the One who is truly perfect and who,ultimately, is the definition of perfection. If we simply look to Him, then the perfected/sinless life is livable…but it is only by constant deliberate pursuit of submitting ourselves to Christ and allowing His Spirit to do the work in our lives.
I believe this is the entire purpose of the Law anyway, to reveal the desperate need we have for a Savior. Nobody can live up to the standards God is calling us to live up to…it is completely impossible for fallen men to attain those standards…we are powerless to do anything to combat our fleshly nature…the only power we have lies within the life of the Spirit of God indwelling us. THAT is where our strength can be found…and it is in HIM that we are able to truly pursue the perfection that Jesus is calling us to. So, His command to be perfect is not only really hard, it is impossible!! But we must always remember that that which is impossible with man is possible with God. Remember also, that we were formerly dead in our transgressions and have been graciously brought to life by this same God…and the God who has given us life, is also able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine…
I’m pretty sure I’ve written something like this already in the past, but it is good for me to reevaluate and rehash some of the same things again…I believe that everything happens for a reason, and there is a reason God has continued to bring this passage to my mind every time I see that Lexus ad. Alright, I’m out…praying that God will enable us all to pursue Him and that HE will do His perfect work within our hearts as we submit to Him and abide in Christ.
