“For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy” Heb. 10:14 (NLT).
“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” 2 Chor. 3:18 (NLT).
As a way of introduction, let me give us the dictionary definitions for perfection and excellence and we’ll move from there.
PERFECTION: A state or condition that cannot be improved (Merriam-Webster).
EXCELLENCE: The quality of being outstanding or extremely good (Oxford).
While perfection is the end point, excellence is the process. The passive verb “being” as used in the definition of excellence, and the introductory text above, is a present progressive tense. This means that it tells of an ongoing activity.
The man that God has made and redeemed is a perfect man. You cannot be any less or any more of a man than you already are. However, everything God has deposited in you does not show forth at once. You gradually begin to manifest all that God has deposited in you. This makes you a better man and not necessarily another kind of man as it were.
It will interest you to know that the point of perfection is the point where you have become all there is to become (you should either be dead or raptured). However, excellence is concerned with progressive improvements.
If that is the case, why did the Bible command us to be perfect? Thank you for asking, I will answer your question.
Look at the way The Amplified Bible puts Matthew 5:48; “You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect”.
Perfection is something you grow into; it’s an end point. Jesus wanted us to focus on the goal which is “being like Him”. And the process that leads to perfection is Excellence.
MANIFEST!
Merry Christmas.
Yours truly,
Ibeh Uche Sam
© Transforming Words Series