Perfect
Matthew 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
This was what Jesus told those who would follow Him. Be perfect. It is easy to write this off and think Jesus was speaking in hyperbole. Or maybe to make some twisted theological argument that Jesus was going to perfect us with a lightening bolt "zap" to our spirit without any real cost in our lives, but Jesus delivered this statement in the midst of the Sermon on the Mount...the ultimate teaching on trading temporary discomfort for future greatness:
Matthew 5:19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
To do and teach Jesus' commandments is to choose greatness forever...literally. when Jesus said "be perfect" He was saying be "complete." The world translated perfect here is reflecting a desire for fullness in obedience. It could also be translated "whole hearted..mature...complete in pursuit of agreement with God."
When heaven comes to earth with Jesus, the earth will be full of people with bodies that will never die, living varying degrees of greatness...for real. Everyone will not be assigned the same dwelling place, authority, position near God's throne. No! These facets of life will be determined by how seriously we took Jesus when we couldn't see Him...our 70 or 80 years here. The moment every eye sees Him, certain aspects of our life from then on will be set. Even our clothing will reflect how well we loved Jesus when we couldn't see Him. Choosing to walk in consecration (taking seriously the measure of obedience we are going after...cleanness) now, results in glorification (brightness) forever:
John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Revelation 3:4-5 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
My choices now really matter. Jesus said that how close people will be to Him forever will really matter on how much like Him they desire to be now.
Matthew 20:20-28 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Just like the disciples were annoyed with James and John, people don't generally like to hear this! But Jesus clearly said it: if you live LIKE I live, then you will get to live WHERE I live. Everyone gets what they want in the end.
Many believers want to imagine that we will all be sitting with Jesus in the park at the same time...that somehow He will multiply His body to be with everyone at once. The Bible is clear this is not the case. Jesus is a real man, with one real body, coming to this very same earth. Everyone will have perfect communication with God through the indwelling Spirit...just like Adam was made...but Jesus will have one physical body...just like He does now. Some will be close to Him, and some far away.
It is up to me how close I will be. Proximity to Jesus is entirely related to overcoming the world's way and being wholehearted for Jesus. Sincere love for Jesus is not wholeheartedness. There are many sincere lovers of Jesus who never overcome self and the world. To overcome takes work and intention.
This is an incredibly unpopular message with the western Church. We are spoiled in many ways by comfort. Jesus said that to be great was to serve others...making ourselves least...with our time, money, prominence, and position. To admit our immaturity and "mourn" it (cry out to Jesus to change it). This is entirely counter to our "american dream" lifestyle, where we focus on what we can accumulate and spend safely on ourselves first in terms of our time, money, and possessions. Most western christians think in terms of "what they can afford" to give Jesus. He is okay with that, but that choice is actually costing us big time in heaven. Jesus held up people who would give it all...not just what they "could afford."
Mark 12:42-44 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”
This episode either makes Jesus a madman for letting a foolish woman starve, or demonstrates He believes something very few others do. Jesus knows the kingdom of heaven would never allow someone to give too much. Jesus really does control the wind, and the waves, and the money that flows in and out of my life.
Jesus has no need of anything I offer Him, but He knows my heart is connected to whatever I make my strength. I am tempted to make tangible things like time, money, and possessions my strength. But Jesus wants me to make Him my strength so my heart can change and become like His heart. He wants to form His life...His essence...in MY heart:
Galatians 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
God made Adam and Eve perfect but with free will. When they chose rebellion, they died, just like God promised. First their spirit died, and the Holy Spirit who dwelt there left. Shame... the secret sense that they no longer measured up...took up the space in their spirit. Then eventually their hearts fell away...decision by decision...until they were defiled and died, and ultimately their once perfect bodies died. When this all occurred, God's bright holiness, blazing hotter than a million suns, was no longer safe for them to be near, and God withdrew from the physical realm, for love of His creation. Creation groans for His return.
Jesus made it possible to reverse this death. He did it in the same order mankind died. First, He completely renovates the Spirit (justification) and the Holy Spirit takes up residence there again. Then He makes possible the renovation of the heart (sanctification). Someday, we will get a body that reflects the heart in all its chosen glory...but the measure of glory is up to me! Jesus has not done away with free will. The more I choose to live like Jesus lived...the more I allow Him to form His life in me, the more renovated my heart gets, and the more capacity I will physically have to be near His blazing holiness someday. The less I let Him renovate my heart, the less safe it will be for me to be near Him. It is that simple.
Psalm 119 is David's manifesto on living whole hearted. It is a chronicle of the man after God's own heart mourning His immaturity, longing that God would teach Him His commandments so He could walk more in them and have His heart made more like God. This is the cry of my heart, too. I don't want to trade greatness in eternity for comfort and spiritual boredom now!
Psalms 119:25-32 My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word. Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord , do not put me to shame! I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.
This was what Jesus told those who would follow Him. Be perfect. It is easy to write this off and think Jesus was speaking in hyperbole. Or maybe to make some twisted theological argument that Jesus was going to perfect us with a lightening bolt "zap" to our spirit without any real cost in our lives, but Jesus delivered this statement in the midst of the Sermon on the Mount...the ultimate teaching on trading temporary discomfort for future greatness:
Matthew 5:19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
To do and teach Jesus' commandments is to choose greatness forever...literally. when Jesus said "be perfect" He was saying be "complete." The world translated perfect here is reflecting a desire for fullness in obedience. It could also be translated "whole hearted..mature...complete in pursuit of agreement with God."
When heaven comes to earth with Jesus, the earth will be full of people with bodies that will never die, living varying degrees of greatness...for real. Everyone will not be assigned the same dwelling place, authority, position near God's throne. No! These facets of life will be determined by how seriously we took Jesus when we couldn't see Him...our 70 or 80 years here. The moment every eye sees Him, certain aspects of our life from then on will be set. Even our clothing will reflect how well we loved Jesus when we couldn't see Him. Choosing to walk in consecration (taking seriously the measure of obedience we are going after...cleanness) now, results in glorification (brightness) forever:
John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Revelation 3:4-5 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
My choices now really matter. Jesus said that how close people will be to Him forever will really matter on how much like Him they desire to be now.
Matthew 20:20-28 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Just like the disciples were annoyed with James and John, people don't generally like to hear this! But Jesus clearly said it: if you live LIKE I live, then you will get to live WHERE I live. Everyone gets what they want in the end.
Many believers want to imagine that we will all be sitting with Jesus in the park at the same time...that somehow He will multiply His body to be with everyone at once. The Bible is clear this is not the case. Jesus is a real man, with one real body, coming to this very same earth. Everyone will have perfect communication with God through the indwelling Spirit...just like Adam was made...but Jesus will have one physical body...just like He does now. Some will be close to Him, and some far away.
It is up to me how close I will be. Proximity to Jesus is entirely related to overcoming the world's way and being wholehearted for Jesus. Sincere love for Jesus is not wholeheartedness. There are many sincere lovers of Jesus who never overcome self and the world. To overcome takes work and intention.
This is an incredibly unpopular message with the western Church. We are spoiled in many ways by comfort. Jesus said that to be great was to serve others...making ourselves least...with our time, money, prominence, and position. To admit our immaturity and "mourn" it (cry out to Jesus to change it). This is entirely counter to our "american dream" lifestyle, where we focus on what we can accumulate and spend safely on ourselves first in terms of our time, money, and possessions. Most western christians think in terms of "what they can afford" to give Jesus. He is okay with that, but that choice is actually costing us big time in heaven. Jesus held up people who would give it all...not just what they "could afford."
Mark 12:42-44 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”
This episode either makes Jesus a madman for letting a foolish woman starve, or demonstrates He believes something very few others do. Jesus knows the kingdom of heaven would never allow someone to give too much. Jesus really does control the wind, and the waves, and the money that flows in and out of my life.
Jesus has no need of anything I offer Him, but He knows my heart is connected to whatever I make my strength. I am tempted to make tangible things like time, money, and possessions my strength. But Jesus wants me to make Him my strength so my heart can change and become like His heart. He wants to form His life...His essence...in MY heart:
Galatians 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
God made Adam and Eve perfect but with free will. When they chose rebellion, they died, just like God promised. First their spirit died, and the Holy Spirit who dwelt there left. Shame... the secret sense that they no longer measured up...took up the space in their spirit. Then eventually their hearts fell away...decision by decision...until they were defiled and died, and ultimately their once perfect bodies died. When this all occurred, God's bright holiness, blazing hotter than a million suns, was no longer safe for them to be near, and God withdrew from the physical realm, for love of His creation. Creation groans for His return.
Jesus made it possible to reverse this death. He did it in the same order mankind died. First, He completely renovates the Spirit (justification) and the Holy Spirit takes up residence there again. Then He makes possible the renovation of the heart (sanctification). Someday, we will get a body that reflects the heart in all its chosen glory...but the measure of glory is up to me! Jesus has not done away with free will. The more I choose to live like Jesus lived...the more I allow Him to form His life in me, the more renovated my heart gets, and the more capacity I will physically have to be near His blazing holiness someday. The less I let Him renovate my heart, the less safe it will be for me to be near Him. It is that simple.
Psalm 119 is David's manifesto on living whole hearted. It is a chronicle of the man after God's own heart mourning His immaturity, longing that God would teach Him His commandments so He could walk more in them and have His heart made more like God. This is the cry of my heart, too. I don't want to trade greatness in eternity for comfort and spiritual boredom now!
Psalms 119:25-32 My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word. Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord , do not put me to shame! I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.
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