Wanting to be perfect has given me a lot of grief over the years. While I don’t expect perfection of others, for some reason, I do strive for it myself in the things I do or create. Although I know perfection is truly impossible, there is a certain level I must achieve in order to be satisfied with the job. Sometimes, if I don’t think I can do the job to my satisfaction, I won’t even try. That very fact led to many years living in a messy house!
However, perfection doesn’t exist in this world- just look up the definitions which are full of ‘as good/ close as can be’, ‘as free as possible’, and never just faultless or flawless. Certainly, no human could ever be perfect, as the ‘perfect’ person for you (that you married) often turns into the most flawed person within a few short years! As to perfect objects, birthed in the depths of the earth, diamonds are considered valuable and are treasured, especially good quality ones. Here is a description of diamond clarity:
Every diamond is unique. None is absolutely perfect under 10× magnification, though some come close. Known as Flawless diamonds, these are exceptionally rare. Most jewelers have never even seen one.
Notice none are absolutely perfect and that is under 10x magnification which leads me to wonder, what if the magnification were stronger? Would we see even more flaws? It is a good thing that God doesn’t look at us under magnification because our flaws are already visible to the eye. Any closer inspection would surely make it much worse. Blessedly though, we have the best solution for cleaning available to us in Jesus Christ.
Just as the blood was sprinkled 7x (Lev. 16:14 -perfect atonement) on the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant (Ex. 25:10-22) so that God looking down at the commandments inside (Ex. 25:16) saw only the blood of atonement and not how many laws His people had broken, so when He looks at us through Jesus’ blood, He sees us cleansed. “…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1Jh. 1:7)
But when Christ came … he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that was not made by human hands … Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he went into the Holy of Holies once for all and secured our eternal redemption. Heb. 9:11,12
Let’s get back to perfection though. There is One perfect thing in the universe, He dwells in heaven (Ec. 5:2) and is our God. Not only is He blemish free in character, but also in actions. He is holy (Rev. 4:8), a just God and Savior (Is. 45:21), a righteous God (Ps. 7:9), He doesn’t lie (Nm. 23:19 ) or change (Mal. 3:6) His nature. He doesn’t need to change who He is, for who He is, is perfect.
…your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Mt. 5:48
As for God, his way is perfect… Ps. 18:30
And so we can find/ ‘see’ perfection in this universe. Any time we enter God’s presence, we are able to be in the presence of His perfection and there we find many treasures*. We can enter into His presence because of what Jesus has done for us (Eph. 3:11 ,12) at the cross and resurrection. In fact, at His death the veil was torn (Mr. 15:38) giving us access to the presence of the Almighty (Heb. 10:19 ,20) and His perfection. Ah, what wonderful perfection it is!
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling,
and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude 1:24,25
*Scriptures on some of the treasures found in the presence of Almighty God
Ac. 3:19; 1Chr. 16:27; Ps. 27:4; Ex. 33:14; Ps. 16:11;