Reaching perfection

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy (Titus 3:5).

The greatest dream of humankind is self-perfection.  There are countless TV shows and books and seminars that offer ways to make you into a better person.  Someone who is not addicted to bad habits.  Someone who doesn’t criticize or lose their temper.  Someone who is willing to share and give and show compassion.  Someone who is deserving of respectful treatment and loving affection.

This ideal of self-perfection is a major component of every religion.  Hindus believe in reincarnation, the idea that you are reborn over and over again until you finally get things right and ascend to eternal peace.  The Mormon faith teaches that if you do a good enough job living according to the church’s beliefs, you can eventually ascend to become a god yourself.  How many funerals have you attended where it was implied that by living a good life, the dearly departed had earned their wings in heaven?

Sadly, the dream of self-perfection is truly futile.  If humanity can reach a higher state of being, why do war and poverty and crime still exist?  How well have you carried out the New Year’s resolutions made throughout your life?  Are you absolutely sure that when you die, what awaits you in eternity is reward--not divine punishment?

Achieving perfection on our own is impossible.  Jesus says, be perfect…as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).  But who can be perfect from cradle to grave?  The answer, of course, is no one.  Scripture says, there is no one who does good, not a single person (Psalm 53:5).  No matter how hard we try, our weak and corrupted human nature will always result in some degree of failure.

Thankfully, self-improvement doesn’t have to be an exercise in futility.  When the Son of God dwelt on earth 2,000 years ago, He lived the perfect life that God expects from each of us.  When we embrace Jesus as our Savior, we are permitted to share in His perfection.  When Christ suffered on the cross and died, His sacrifice paid the penalty for each and every way that we have been failures, ridding us of both guilt and punishment.  And the Savior who opens heaven to believers also helps us reflect His love to those around us.  We don’t have to be perfect, not when we make our home in Jesus’ loving arms.