What is Perfection?

The concept of perfection is a difficult one. As humans, we often speak of perfection in the sense that "Last night's dinner was perfect" or "my summer vacation was just perfect". Yet, of course, we don’t mean such statements literally. Perfection is a concept that all people understand and believe to be true. We all strive for perfection. We all seek to achieve something greater and more perfect.

Yet, how is it that we even know what the concept of perfection is? Some might argue that perfection is known because imperfection is seen. There is a sense in which this is true. We see children born with birth defects and know that they were born with an imperfection. We answered 9 of 10 right on a spelling bee or math test and realize that we were almost perfect. Perfection could be defined as achievement of expectation as in the case of birth defects or mathematically by equating it to 100%.

However, this can also be just a matter of semantics or definition. If we define perfection in the human body as being a person born with two arms and two legs with five fingers and toes respectively then by definition those born with these features were born "perfectly". However, if we change the definition then we can allow others who were born without five fingers or perhaps with six fingers to become our new definition of perfection.

Perfection, therefore, can become for us a moving target. It can become only what we have defined it to be. Why is it, then, that everyone seems to have a certain definition of perfection that so often agrees? While not all will attest to the fact that a perfect human body has four limbs, most will. While not all will say that 100% accuracy is perfection, most will. Why do most people agree upon the definition if by that very definition perfection is defined?

Why am I willing to admit to the fact that my eyes are not perfect because I need contacts or glasses to see? Why don’t I just change the definition and claim perfection? Why don’t others as well claim to be perfect, unflawed, and as designed?

Why don’t I also apply this to my own actions? I could just as easily say that although I lied to my friend that its o.k. because my definition of perfection allows for it. Yet, I do not use this standard and neither do so many others.

When Jesus was asked by His disciples why the man was born blind, He replied that it was in order that the works of God might be revealed within him (Jn 9:1-3). What did that mean? Was Jesus saying that this man was born perfectly or flawed? I don’t think that Jesus was implying this at all. He was not saying that this man was ordinary or typical. He was instead saying that the imperfection in him pointed to what true perfection really was. By seeing the flaw, we come to know the ideal. Thus, Jesus restores His vision to what was the norm. Moreover, God is revealed to us through the imperfections of those born with such defects.

Maybe stranger still is that the Scriptures teach us to be perfect. Yet, how do they expect us to know what "perfection" is? In Matthew 5:48, Jesus said "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Jesus expects perfection. He also expects us to know what perfection is by knowing that God is perfect. Thus, God, by His very definition, is perfect. Yet, how am I supposed to know what perfection is? I cannot see God. I cannot reach out and touch Him.

An illustration of this I believe is helpful. Suppose that I were to hand you a set of pencils. This set included only pencils. There were red ones, green ones, number 2 and number 7 lead pencils, but all pencils. Then, suppose that I were to hand you a pen. How would you know that the pen was not to be apart of the set of pencils? You might say that "its because the pen is not a pencil". But how do you know that the pen is not a pencil?

You might then reply, "Because a pencil must have lead and an eraser. Pens do not have these. They use ink to write. Therefore, they are not apart of the set of pencils." I might reply, "Yes, but both are used to write. They might write differently but they both are used to write on paper. Therefore, anything that writes should be included in that set of pencils."

Your reply should then attack my definition of a pencil. For any set of something, must have at the very least one perfected example. A set of pencils must have an ideal pencil. A set of horses must have an ideal horse. A set of Ford Thunderbird cars must have an ideal one. This necessitates that an ideal pencil is not a pen. The definition of a pencil does not permit the ability to have ink.

Such is true in human beings as well. In order to truly know perfection, we must know the ideal or perfection of the set. Jesus was the perfect example of a human being. He was God incarnate. He Himself said that in order to be perfect we must know perfection. We must know God the Father. We come to know God explicitly through Jesus. While we can know about God and His perfection through nature or other means, we come to truly know the personality of God through the personality of His Son. We better understand the actions of God through understanding the actions of His Son. We see the true love of God through the love of His Son.

What is perfection? It is the ideal that is only expressed in the fullness of God the Father and the revelation of Him through His Son Jesus Christ.

God is Perfection. Therefore, "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect".