Why We Shouldn’t Hide All Our Imperfections

“I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.”
—Michael J. Fox

'I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God's business.' —Michael J. Fox Click To Tweet

As we drove toward our destination, my friend and I shared about our failures to exercise restraint in a certain area. It was a refreshing conversation.

Imperfections and Faithful

Too often our failings are tucked away for fear we may be found out as less than perfect. Especially, as Christians, we may feel hypocritical when we let others see where we fall short. After all, we represent Jesus, and He was perfect.

Yet it’s important to know we aren’t alone in our missteps. And it’s critical that we don’t equate imperfection with faithlessness. If that were the case, not one human being (apart from the incarnate Jesus) would be considered to have faith. 

I wonder if God included the biblical passage about the “Heroes of the Faith” in His holy Word in part because He knew we’d get hung up on our shortcomings. Thus, missing His redeeming and sanctifying work.

Our imperfections necessitate the work of Jesus Christ. After all, if perfection apart from faith in Christ were possible, there’d be no reason for Him to be our Savior.  But oh my, there is a reason! 

Heroes of Faith

Take a look at Hebrews 11. One of my favorite chapters in the Bible, it lists the names and brief testimonies of the accomplishments of many biblical persons. Most of whom those of us in the church grew up hearing about.

Now lest you think they were celebrated for what they did, Scripture repeatedly points out that they were approved by faith and faith alone!

They would never have been approved otherwise because when we take a closer look at their lives, we see failures.

• Sarah laughed at God,
• Abraham tried to take things under his own control,
• Moses repeatedly questioned God and begged off on his assignment
• King David committed adultery and had a man killed to cover it up.

Get the picture? A bit relieved? 

The best news ever is that we don’t have to be perfect to be considered faithful! Our approval does not come by our doings. 

Approved By Faith

God approves us when we believe in Jesus Christ, an act of faith made possible through His grace. He approves us, imperfections/failings and all, if we believe in His Son as our Savior. 

We don't have to be perfect to be considered faithful! Our approval does not come by our doings. God approves us, imperfections/failings and all, if we believe in His Son as our Savior, an act of faith made possible through His grace. Click To Tweet

Certainly, because of our love for the Lord, we’ll try to do better. To make better choices. To learn from our mistakes.

And with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can grow to more clearly reflect Christ in our earthly life. But it’s only when we reach heaven that we’ll exist in perfection.

Until then, let’s embrace the grace given. Let’s be quick to share about our shortcomings. Let’s allow others to see who we really are: a mess in progress, but a masterpiece of perfection in the making.

Thanks to the work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, we may be a mess in progress, but we're a masterpiece of perfection in the making. Click To Tweet

Maybe then, they too will come to know the Savior who longs to do a makeover in their lives.  

“We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit” 2 Corinthians 3:18, CSB

Reflections: What’s stopping you from sharing your failings with others? Pride? Shame? Reread Hebrews 11 and then dig into the lives of these “heroes.” You aren’t alone in your imperfections, my friends. You share that platform with all the Heroes of Faith.