Perfector- a person who completes or makes something perfect
Perfect- ideal, faultless, complete, or to achieve or finish some goal.
· conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type
· excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement
· exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose
Based on these definitions, what does it mean for God to be our perfector?
He wants to help make us into the ideal Christian, to become complete and achieve the goals we have, and to cause us to be faultless in our Christian walk.
1. We become the ideal Christian by allowing him to lead in our lives.
Our lives are not our own (1 Cor 6:19), we were made for a specific purpose, and only by doing what God wants us to can we truly be the ideal person God envisioned as he formed us.
"God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect, let me add, God is also fully aware that the people you think are perfect are not. And yet, we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others -- usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does." Dieter Uchtdorf
We can't compare ourselves to others, because we are all at different stages in our journey. So often we see people with the "ideal ____" or " _____ goals", but we should always be striving to grow and become more perfect in the eyes of God. He expects us to allow him the ability to work (Phil 2:12-14).
If our heart is right with Christ, and we're doing what we should, everything else in life will follow.
· Heb_13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever.
2. God causes us to be faultless.
Jude 24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour...
Faultless does not mean without sin! Even after Salvation we still struggle with sin. Paul tells of his struggles with the flesh, and the battle every Christian faces daily-the war between our flesh and our desire to serve God (Rom 7:15-25). He explains that we need to "die daily" (1 Cor 15:31), and encourages us to put off our old man and put on the new man we receive after Salvation (Eph 4:22-24). However, because we are under the blood, our sins are covered and we are washed as white as snow (Is 1:18).
"I wondered if that was why God hated sin, because of the destruction it caused. For a moment I felt awe for a God who loved me enough to hate the things that hurt me without hating me for causing them." Susan Isaacs
While God hates sin simply because it is sin, he also hates to see us suffering and wants to see us drawing closer to him, and becoming more Christ-like to prevent unnecessary pain on our part.
We have to constantly resist the temptations of the flesh, and purpose in our heart to follow God and do what is right. For us to grow, we have to die to self. Put your own will and what you want on the back burner to what Christ wants from you.
How do we know what he wants from us? By reading the Bible and spending time with him. We learn that all Christians are called to do things for God. To name just a few:
· Be a light (Eph 5:8)
o Phil 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
· Be a witness (Mark 16:15)
· Love one another (John 13:34)
· Each individual is called specifically by God to serve in different ways, but we won't know what that is until we surrender our wills to him.
3. God causes us to be perfect and complete:
· The only reason God can make our way perfect is because He is perfect.
o 2 Sam 22:31-33 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
§ Psa 18:30-32 Emphasizes this point.
· How does he make our way perfect?
o The verses in the rest of the two chapters go on to talk about God giving us strength against our enemies, and the capability to do what's right and stand strong.
· Why do we try to find perfection outside of him?
· Perfection is a commandment!
o Gen_17:1b I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
o Deu_18:13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
o Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
· Not being perfect with God can get us into trouble.
o 1Ki_11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
o When our heart is not solely following after God, we are not perfect in our relationship and walk with him, and that causes pain later on. Solomon's kingdom was divided and many people felt the consequences of his sin.
o What is causing us to not be perfect with God?
· However, being perfect, and having a heart as close to God as we can does not mean we won't have our fair share of struggles, but we can become strengthened and established in God, having a firm foundation on which to build.
o 1Pe_5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
· Are our works found perfect before God?
We should think about our every action, and determine if they are helping or hindering in our walk with him.
o Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.