There was a good father once, who perfectly loved his only son. Their relationship with one another was impeccable in all facets. Perfect love, perfect obedience, perfect surrender, perfect honor, perfect fellowship was found between them. Nothing and no one could come in between their unbreakable bond. Everyday when his son narrated on how his day at school was, invariably the talk about the foster child at the school came up. And this boy was the exact opposite of the son; in academics, in sports, in behavior, in character and in the class. It was quite evident to the good father that this foster child had severe deep-rooted behavioral problems. And with each passing day and each narration of the events at school by his son, the good father’s compassion grew stronger and stronger within him. Until one final day, he would take matters into his own hand and look into the foster family that this troubled boy belonged to. He would quickly find a broken home where there was no love nor warmth present. The father at this foster home was too stern with his disciplining without showing any mercy and the mother showed no grace nor compassion to her adopted child in his mistakes. The good father would now do everything in his power to adopt this foster boy and make him his own son. And he would not fail in his attempt to do so. Soon, the foster boy would move into his new home and settle down well with the family. The love, warmth and compassion of his new home was unlike anything he had ever experienced before in his life. He was loved and given all the same opportunities and care as the firstborn son in this home, without any partiality shown by the good father. Yet, for all of this love and care shown, the discernible differences between the firstborn son and him began to be evident to him. He saw that for all his efforts that he couldn’t just be like the firstborn son. In every area of academics, sports, discipline or character. His brother was just too perfect for him to try and emulate. And deep down, this adopted son soon began to be overcome by despondency. He reasoned and concluded within himself: “I’ll never be like my brother in all things. He’s just too perfect for me!” Though he was a beloved son in the good father’s eyes and a dearly loved brother to his elder brother. He resigned himself by his own resolve to even attempt at being perfect as his elder brother is. And as he looked in the mirror he could only see the past image of his orphancy and never his sonship. He would finally continue to live as an orphan in the good father’s home.

This story represents us and is meant to reveal how we live in the Father’s house, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The good father represents our one Heavenly Father (Matthew 23:9). The firstborn represents Jesus Christ, as our perfect example to imitate (Ephesians 5:1). The foster home represents the old covenant of Moses and the prophets. This story is meant to talk about the doctrine of perfection, which is like a long lost fable in churches today. Perfection as Christians, is an idea many might shudder at or merely dismiss it as something impossible. Paul makes it clear to us in Philippians 3:11-13 that such complete perfection as Christ comes when we fully partake of his life here on earth. This also includes Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and therefore we shall also be made perfect as Christ at the resurrection to our eternal life in our glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 1 John 3:2). Yet, the sole evidence of this hope in us is manifest through our pressing on to perfection in Christ (1 John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 6:18-7:1). Christ’s example of perfection is not merely meant to be a showpiece on display in our cabinets, but instead a mold that presses us and is always conforming us to a higher standard of perfection of Christ (Romans 8:29). To paraphrase what I heard someone once say, “The devil has deceived half the world that Jesus Christ is not God (unbelievers) and the remaining half he has deceived them to believe they shall never be like Him.” Christ’s perfect life lived on this sinful earth is the best example to our faith’s for seeking perfection through Him. Tempted as we are (Hebrews 4:15) yet not one sin was found in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

If Christ could, I can!

If today we lack the faith to walk in the footprints that Christ laid for us on this earth. Or we have failed in our attempts one too many times to count, in measuring up to His perfection. Remember, God has not given up on you and neither should you. Press on in the hope of perfection and sin shall have no dominion over your life (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).