Perfection Is Unattainable

Perfection is unattainable. No matter how hard we try. Perfection is not a reality. That's a fact. And we will only wear ourselves down if we try for it.

We're not made to be perfect. Only God is perfect.

When we live our lives with the thought that we can be perfect we will wear ourselves out. Because, as many times as we turn the other cheek, as many times as we give all that we can to the poor, we will still mess up. We will still be imperfect.

And that's okay.

Jesus paid the price for us on the cross. He died for our sins and imperfections. He lived a holy, perfect life on earth. He gave us a great example to follow. But perfection for us won't come here on earth.

There are always going to be imperfections in our lives. There are going to be little things that we do wrong. There are going to be bad things that will happen to us. This earthly life is not made to be perfect. But one day we will be in a perfect place.

Heaven will be everything that we could hope for, more than we could dream of, more perfect than anything we could imagine.

Heaven is perfection.

Jesus is perfect.

We are not.

The sooner we let go and realize how imperfect we are, the sooner we will feel free. We will find it easy to follow Jesus's example only when we realize that we will never measure up to him. We will be better people, happier, more forgiving and loving and caring when we know that we all have imperfections and always will.

We will be at our best when we look to our savior for perfection. When we fully accept the grace that only he can provide. When we know that only he can cover our sins.

No good we do could ever erase the wrongs we have done. Striving for perfection would not lead us into heaven. Jesus is the only way. The only truth. The only life.

God's ways are perfect. God's love is perfect. We are his creation, and he wants us to follow him. He wants us to be good, but to know that we are flawed and are in need of a savior.

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

1 John 4:14

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8:36

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

Beautiful Nature

Last month, Emily and I and two of our brothers went on a short road trip to the Duluth, MN area.

From the gorgeous sunrise over Lake Superior to the ice and snow covered hills and rocks, there was so much beauty to take in.

I love traveling and seeing different areas of the country. God has created so much variety in nature for us to enjoy.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good...

Genesis 1:31

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

God Is Faithful In His Promises

God is faithful in all of his promises...

He promises that the earth will stay the same, as long as it endures...

And he promises comfort and joy in Heaven...

He loves us. And he promises to never leave us.

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

If Life Was Fair

How simple would life be if only it was fair?

Then we could stop asking questions like, why me? Why did this have to happen? Why do bad things happen to good people?

It’s easy to get caught up in these questions and to long for an answer to them. And it’s not always so simple to know the answer. There isn’t always going to be a reason that we see for why something bad happened.

But God is always in control.

We can always trust in him.

That is one thing that we can cling to through those “why” moments. Another beautiful thing to cling to is the fact that even though life is not fair, Heaven will be perfect. We have an eternal life to look forward to. God never promised us that this life was going to be easy or perfect, he, in fact, told us that it wouldn’t be, but something better is to come.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:1-4

It would be nice if life was fair and we didn’t have to ask the “why” questions, but it isn’t. And, when the pains and struggles of this world overwhelm us, we need to set our minds on what is to come. Because, this life may be filled with pain, but in Heaven God will wipe every tear from our eyes.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more;

mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away.” 

Revelation 21:4

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken