Wednesday, June 12, 2013

perfection has its limits

Psalm 119:96:  

I have seen the consummation of all perfection, 
But Your commandment is exceedingly broad. nkjv 

To all perfection I see a limit, 
but your commands are boundless. niv  

I have seen a limit to all perfection, 
but your commandment is exceedingly broad. esv  

Even perfection has its limits, 
but your commands have no limit. nlt

[photo credit]

Perfect: conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type, entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings.

Perfection: the state or quality of being or becoming perfect.

The Psalmist declares that he has seen the consummation of perfection. We all know that there is a difference between speculation and witnessing. He has seen (witnessed, beheld, examined, surveyed, recognizedperceived with his own eyes) that perfection has its limits. This truth helps me understand that pursuing perfection is futile. Why chase after an ideal that will lead to a dead end street? 

I believe that we all long for perfection of some sort: outer, inner, intellectual, spiritual, or all around. We also expect perfection in others. We have this longing because it was placed there by God. But our pursuit is worldly and self seeking. "Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Eternity is the perfection we were created for and therefore long for it. Perfection here on earth has limits, perfection in Heaven is limitless.  

But your commands.

Commands is another word for God's Word. His Words are exceedingly broad, they have no limits, and are boundless. "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable." (Hebrews 4:12-13) 

My encouragement to you for today, and forever, is to seek that which is eternally perfect (beyond compare, defectless, excellent, faultless, foolproof, immaculate, impeccable, pure, sound, supreme, unequaled, and flawless): the Word of God. Jesus is called the Word, even more reason for us to be more like Him. I am confident that if we take our eyes off of human perfection we will begin to life the abundant life promised to us. 



No comments:

follow me