The Definition of Perfection

Posted on by Makala Doulos
God, so great an artificer in great things, is not less great in small things.
~Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

The only sovereign I recognize is he who sets fire to the suns and, with one blow of his hand, can send the worlds rolling in space.
~François René, Vicomte de Chateaubriand (1768-1848)


Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

~ Philippians 2:5-13


Who are we to think that we can somehow “optimize” the plans of the very One who goes before us?  Are we not missing something when we come to lines of thinking like this?

Seek the LORD while he may be found; 
   call upon him while he is near; 
let the wicked forsake his way, 
   and the unrighteous man his thoughts; 
let him return to the LORD,
that he may have compassion on him, 
   and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 
   neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 
   so are my ways higher than your ways 
   and my thoughts than your thoughts.
~ Isaiah 55:8


Surely, beloved, it is the best path for us to most surely believe that our thoughts about what G_d wants, and what He wants us to do fall woefully short of their actual scope.   His Word is THE sum and substance for all faith and practice in this world.  But for us to assume that the Whole Counsel of the One who was and is and is to come, is completely contained by the 66 books of the Bible is just as surely foolish as He is wise.

And just as surely, would that we might rest in the fact that everyone one of our prayers to Him and the answers He gives are given the full counsel of His manifold wisdom.  These requests are all considered in the council of the ages.  They are weighed in the balance of the very purposes of the Most High – and from there His decisions are meted out on our lives and history.

And we think we are going to somehow improve on this?  Somehow, we are going to bring about some sort of change to the situation by what we think – or even do? 

Yes, G_d has given us a free will.  But let us not forget that His ways are beyond infinite.  Our true free will in NO WAY impedes the Sovereignty of the Mighty One who spoke existence itself into existence.

And perhaps, a takeaway here is that we can simply rest in the sovereignty of a holy and righteous G_d.  Let us only and ever seek Him with everything in our lives.  And then, in doing so, leave the results in His able hands.  Pretty much anything we do will be tainted at some level by fleshly intent.  He is the only One who is perfect and can make all things work together for good.

To discuss the authority of Almighty God seems a bit meaningless, and to question it would be absurd. Can we imagine the Lord God of Hosts having to request permission of anyone or to apply for anything to a higher body? To whom would God go for permission? Who is higher than the Highest? Who is mightier than the Almighty? Whose position antedates that of the Eternal? At whose throne would God kneel? Where is the greater one to whom he must appeal?
~A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

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