"Our thought about perfect men & women have changed drastically from the time the bible was written." --Puhpine
PERFECTION
Todays Journal is in reflection to my friend Mauds comment on my last Journal Entry. If you find this difficult to follow I invite you to read the previous Journal Entry for the background. Maudes comment is quoted above.
What is perfection? That can be a tricky question! Asked of different people you can get that many different answers. So then, *who's* to say which answer given is right?
Imagine that you are surrounded with a multitude of doctors. Which we are in a sense. There is no shortage of physicians when you look in a phone book.They consist of:Chiropractors, Dentists,Dermatologists,Holistic, Neurologists ,Obstetricians,Optometrists,Orthopedists,Psychologists, Surgeons,Veterinarians, & the list can go on. Now,with this vast array of knowledge before you,you want to ask a question concerning a torn ligament or a first pregnancy. Who would you ask?
Given that ligaments & pregnancy are 2 very different things I would *hope* you would seek your answers from the source that's most authoritative on the subject.
So back to our question "What is perfection?" Our vast array of knowledge surrounding us in hopes of an "authoritative" answer would include: the Dictionary! After all that *is* the purpose of the book-to give definitions of words.But we must keep in mind that this book,the Dictionary,was authored by humans & while there is absolutely nothing wrong with that,humans are *not* perfect. Unless the definition given in the Dictionary agrees with what the Bible has recorded on the subject,the answer it gives is *not* the source that's *most* athouritative on the subject. Even tho' the Bible,too, was penned by imperfect humans,*those* imperfect humans "spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit."--2Peter1:20-21
And He,God,*is* the authority on the subject as He *is* perfect.
What does He say about the matter? "All Scripture is inspired of God & beneficial for....setting things straight...."--2Timothy3:16
Maud mentioned in her comment(last journal) that the Apostle James probably doesn't speak about external appearances. She is correct in that the Scriptures say very little about *Jesus* physical appearance however it tells us all we need to know in order to answer the question regarding perfection. :D
Many may think of the first Man & Woman,Adam & Eve, when we talk about perfection.They were the first perfect humans before Jehovah God(Psalm 83:18)sent his Son,Jesus Christ,to be born as a man on earth. So what exactly made these 3 people perfect? Was it their external,physical appearance? No doubt they were attractive.The Bible describes Jesus as :"..indeed more handsome than the sons of men...."(Psalm 45:2)
And listen to this description of *perfection*-(Ezekiel 28:13-15)
"In Eden,the garden of God,you proved to be. Every precious stone was your covering,ruby,topaz, & jasper;chrysolite,onyx & jade;sapphire, turquoise & emerald; & of gold was the workmanship of your settings
& your sockets in you.In the day of your being created they were made ready.You are the anointed cherub that is covering, I have set you. On the holy mountain of God you proved to be. In the midst of fiery stones you walked about.You were *faultless*(perfect)from the day of your being created...." It certainly seems as if perfection is an outer appearance, doesn't it? But the scripture does't end there. ".....you were *faultless*(perfect) from the day you were created until *unrighteousness* was found *in* you."
We learn from this that unrighteousness is a defect to perfection.It isn't simply a little surface scratch that doesn't matter. The defect that turns perfection UGLY comes from *inside*. In that scripture,God was describing an anointed,angelic cherub *before* he made himself Satan the Devil. Let's go back to Psalms where it was speaking about Jesus. Where did *hi*s outstanding handsomeness come from?
"...Charm has poured out upon your lips...."His perfection/handsomeness came from his *faithfulness* & his *unbending integrity* as he preached the message of his Fathers Kingdom to others.(Luke 4:22;John 7:46)That scripture goes on to explain, because of Jesus' *wholehearted devotion* Jehovah "blessed him to time indefinite." Comparing the 2 examples we learn that Satan's beauty/perfection was short lived because of what was found in him while Jesus kept his handsomeness/perfection forever because of what was in him. Before we conclude on the answers to what perfection is & is it an external or internal feature I want to share one final scripture that is sure to "set matters straight".(scrip.quoted above)
"..Jehovah said to Samuel: 'Do not look at his appearance & at the height of his stature,for I have rejected him. For not the way man sees is the way God sees,but because mere man sees what appears to the eyes;but as for Jehovah,he sees what the heart is."--1 Samuel 16:7
"Our thought about perfect men/women have changed *drastically* from the time the bible was written.."--Puhpine
The world in which we all must live & it's views are designed to alienate us from God but ultimately *we* get a choice in the matter! :D