“We’ll never be perfect till we die.” True or false?
It’s absolutely TRUE! … But not in the way that most Christians think. Naturally, we tend to think of perfection as something way up high. A seemingly impossible achievement. Something that would elevate us above all the rest. A rare accomplishment that we can really be proud of, and that would certainly earn us great rewards and honor.
But that lofty goal stays out of reach, even out of sight, to the perfectionist who keeps trying to lift himself higher. So he always has a feeling of frustration, and is left with comparing himself to those below him on the climb, in order to get his feeling of self-worth. He might pride himself on the fact that at least he IS trying, and that he believes it CAN be attained.
Sure, we need to believe the Bible, that it can be done, and who can fault someone for trying? But what if the way to the top is DOWN? What if the way to the “high calling” is death?
Take a look at Philippians 3:4-13. Right there, in the middle of all Paul has to say about attaining, apprehending, reaching, pressing, for “the prize of the high calling”; is the WAY to do it… “being made conformable unto His death.”
Galations 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” The standard of God’s perfection is still Jesus. Then look at verses 7-8: “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Luke 9:23-24 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”
Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
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