Let us consider the following question: How does God view imperfection compared to the world?
Many people who live in western countries are part of a society that seeks and accepts an apparent outward perfection. Magazines are covered in advertisements for beauty products and clothes to advance the outward appearance. Photographs of models are air-brushed to remove blemishes and wrinkles. Pharmaceutical products and bodily exercise are promoted to produce the “body beautiful” and a healthier life-style. The world promotes the vision that if you look “good” then you will feel “good” about yourself….the feel good factor! This drive for perfection can be seen in other spheres – a drive in the workplace, the world of sport but effectively, in all areas of daily life related to work or pleasure.
Psalm 139 reminds us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” verse 14. Our Heavenly Father delights to bless us. We were created “for His good pleasure” and He delights in us, but His ways, thoughts and perspectives differ from worldly views. The question was posed at the beginning, “How does God view imperfection?”
Psalm 139:15 – 16 (KJV) “My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there were none of them.”
Before I was even born God’s foreknowledge saw my imperfection. The Amplified version of verse 16 reads, “Thine eyes did see my unformed substance, and in Thy book they were all written, even the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
The foreknowledge of God is so wonderful! Before the foundation of the world, before I was even in the womb, He knew me! He saw the imperfections of my unformed substance and He was completely unfazed – because He had another plan: His wonderful plan of Redemption! Romans 8 declares that we are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. Romans 8:28-29, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called (the invited) according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son.”
Someone recorded a definition of predestination: “to mark off beforehand,” to bring about the revealing of the plan. God has put His mark of recognition on us at our new birth in Christ: Made in heaven – revealed in earth for His purpose and glory! God sees the end from the beginning. I am complete in Christ, that is my standing, but God is still working with us in our daily walk with Him – Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, that God has before ordained that we should walk in them.”
TROUBLE IS NOT IN TROUBLE, IT IS IN MY HEART’S ATTITUDE TO TROUBLE. My trouble spot is “an evil heart of unbelief,” Hebrews 3:12.
When I see imperfection and incompleteness in my own life does it produce a “rest” because I know God is working with me? – or does it produce condemnation through “navel gazing” instead of seeing the workings of God? All the days of my life are written in God’s book, He knows the choices I am going to make. When I side with God and view life from His perspective, my wilderness becomes a watered garden, springing up with joy and peace.
One of the challenges of seeing my imperfection is recognizing who is responsible for dealing with it. It is God’s responsibility for dealing with my imperfection. He engineers my circumstances to bring me to sanctification, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it,” 1 Thes.5:23.
We all recognize Paul’s struggles in Romans 7, we have all struggled with the “shoulds” and “musts” of the law and religion. By using my will there is no glory for God, and I become the enemy of God when I seek my own glory. I can come to the place in truth and transparency with my Heavenly Father….”I am what I am, Lord, but You are my Sanctifier, take the reins of my life.” When I throw myself on God’s mercy He enters into the secret chambers of my heart and makes a divine disconnection with my “old” life of flesh, and the life of Jesus Christ dwells more comfortably within me in another measure of His fullness. His is all the glory, He does the work and makes the divine exchange…beauty for ashes!
