I TRIED IT for a week and that’s all I could endure.

All my teenage male peers were sloppy. I wasn’t, but I wanted to fit in, so I decided to try their lifestyle. It wasn’t easy. Piling dirty clothes on the floor, leaving food scraps on my bed, and allowing loose papers to liter my desk wasn’t me. A place for everything and everything in its place was my motto.

I made it through the week but was a nervous wreck from attempting messiness. You might think that strange for a teenager, but Mom and Dad were neat freaks, and I inherited the gene. I still have it, and unless I incur a form of brain damage altering my normal state, I’ll keep it until I die. It fits my personality.

Perfectionism is a term associated with antics parroting mine, but even perfectionists know we aren’t and can’t be perfect. Dust will accumulate, dishes will get dirty, clothes will soil, carpet will need vacuuming, floors will require mopping and mistakes will be made. Every person and thing carries seeds of imperfection.

Solomon said it well: “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20) And Paul later wrote: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Though perfection in the physical and spiritual realms is unattainable, it’s a worthy goal to be better than we are. Coach Boone in the movie Remember The Titans said; “We will be perfect in every aspect of the game.” He knew the football players weren’t, but he required their efforts to be.

I will never reach sinless perfection this side of heaven. Imperfections will always taint my actions, attitudes and words. But shortcomings are not sufficient reason to give up or give God less than my best. God gives strength to overcome any temptation, and his indwelling Spirit empowers us to make wise and proper choices. Believers aren’t what they were but neither are we what we will be. What can you do to enhance your progress?

Prayer: Merciful heavenly Father, remind us godly living authenticates the message of Christ’s love.

Martin Wiles mandmwiles@homesc.com
Harleyville, South Carolina, USA
www.morningliteministry.com