There is a point in which you become a perfect Christian. There does come a time when you say all the correct things, do the all the right things and follow God’s will perfectly.
I wish I could say that all these statements are true.
But they are not.
The truth is that there is never a point in which you become the perfect Christian. There never comes a time when you say all the correct things, do all the right things or follow God’s will perfectly.
Nor, should you ever get to a point where you desire to.
You shouldn’t sit there wondering “Am I there yet? How far or how close am I? Have I achieved perfection?” For as long as you are on this side of heaven, the answer to that question will forever be a resounding “No.”
But, the good news is that whilst you will never reach perfection on earth, you will always be a better person than you were yesterday, last week, last month and last year. And that is what you should be striving for, not to become perfect, but to improve.
Strive for Improvement Not Perfection
As Christians we are not supposed to be striving to be perfect people. We should be striving to become more Christ-like each day; to move further and further away from the carnal minded old man and closer and closer to the spirit-minded new man. (Ephesians 4: 22-24) And this is a journey that will take time.
But the Word promises that it is one that will eventually come to an end, as it says in Philippians 1:6:
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (emphasis mine) (NKJV)
God makes it clear to us in this Scripture that we will only achieve perfection once Jesus returns. Until then we will be walking a journey of constant renewal, transformation and change. We will be improving every day. But that is only if we allow ourselves to.
Are You Improving Each Day?
Improvement does not happen when you are sitting. It also does not happen when you read the Bible or pray either. Anyone, even those who do not really have faith, can do these things.
But true improvement takes place when you begin applying the principles learned in both Bible reading and prayer, to your own life. Improvement happens when you begin to act out what is written in the Word by faith.
It comes when you start listening to God when He speaks and moving when He says move. When you start choosing to be slow to anger and quick to hear. (James 1:19) Stopping with the idle talk and speaking words that give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29) When you start believing that the Word is true and making it the standard for your life.
Once you move from an idle hearer to an active doer of the Word, improvement will take place. Your character will change, your attitude will change and the quality of your life will change. But again this will not happen overnight.
This kind of change will only happen as you make the choice to stop doing things your way and start doing them God’s way. It will only come once you make the conscious decision to improve each day, always aware that you will not attain perfection.
No One Has Attained Perfection
The Apostle Paul is one person who understood that he was nowhere near perfect. Although, he had achieved quite a number of things in his life that might have led some to believe he was. He ticked all the boxes of a pure Hebrew, he was zealous in fulfilling the Law and blameless in it as well. (Philippians 3:4-6)
Yet look what he says in Philippians 3:12:
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (NKJV)
This scripture reveals that Paul knew he was not perfect. He also understood that he was not supposed to seek his own righteousness, but the righteousness that comes from faith in Christ. (Philippians 3:9) Yet even in this he was not perfect.
Since Paul understood this he also understood the need to continue seeking God’s righteousness, not his own and to keep pursuing the things of God. His attitude is one that we Christians also need to adopt.
Just like Paul, we must be aware that we are not perfect yet. So with this in mind, what exactly are we supposed to do? Just as the Apostle Paul did, we must press on and reach forward every day.
Press On, Reach Forward
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV))
As Christians, each day we should be looking ahead, pressing on and reaching forward for the upward call of God. We do this by choosing God each day, by learning from our mistakes and missteps and changing our actions. And we do this by seeking God’s kingdom first, honouring God’s Word and submitting to God’s Spirit.
We also do this by living with the awareness that life does not end here on earth for there is a brighter, truer and more eternal life up ahead. And that is the life we turn our gaze to and prepare ourselves for.
So stop worrying about whether or not you are perfect yet. Get it out of your head that that is something you should even strive for. Stop asking “Am I there yet?” because the answer is still “No”.
But the good news is that as you seek God each day, surrender and change, you will improve until the Day Jesus returns. And when He does, He will transform you from a lowly heavenly being, with shortcomings, flaws and faults, into a glorious, heavenly and perfect one.
