“For the eager hope of the creation waits for the manifestation of the Sons of God” (Romans 8:19).
There is a sense in which we need to become more comfortable with the idea of imperfection. The perfection of this world has been broken by sin, God long ago began a plan that would culminate in the creation of a new heaven and earth, not physical but spiritual, for all who have accepted His forgiveness. The greater part of the plan has already been accomplished, but the final end has not been reached, and so while there is time left on earth we must be content to live in the midst of a movement towards Perfection. As long as we are alive, everything we have the opportunity to deal with will never be anything other than incomplete. And the sooner we get comfortable with that idea, the better.
Of course, there is another sense in which we should not be comfortable with imperfection. Complacency is a dangerous virtue, and we dare not allow ourselves to be satisfied with the imperfection of this world. We cannot afford to lower our standards.
But I believe that if we move forward and accept the fact that in this life we will never be anything more than incomplete then we will move forward with more enthusiasm. Recognizing that we will never see anything other than God’s “progressive” work, we are then free to dream, yearn, and wait for the time when His plan will reach its zenith, and we can finally go home. Acknowledging the currently unfulfilled nature of God’s purposes keeps us from demanding more from this life than it can handle.
In Romans 8:22,23, Paul wrote about our “groaning” in this world: “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning and suffering in labor pains up to now. Not only this, but we too, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption of a son, the redemption of our body.” Therefore the Christian who groans should hardly be surprised. . . But he should not be discouraged! “Beloved, now we are the children of God; and it has not yet appeared what we will be, but we know that when He appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).
“We must learn how to live as incomplete beings in an incomplete universe. We look at God’s process from the middle, not from the end” (Paul Siholas).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com AreYouaChristian.com
