Perfection--the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects.
There you are, sitting in your car or dorm, killing time between classes or scrolling through Instagram while avoiding studying for an upcoming exam. You see the typical spring break 2k16 fraternity brothers being “frat” and “women crush Wednesdays," and you are unconciously double-tapping. Then you see something that stirs something different in you, a post that seems so perfect and put together…it seems unreal.
As Christians, we are burdened with the pressure of being the one in the crowd that “has it all together." Because of that, we have the hardest time admitting that we aren’t OK; we are flawed, dealing with something far greater than ourselves. Social media has enhanced this feeling of needing to be the Christian that sips coffee in the local café and does this extensive devotion and documents “our view” on Instagram while taking beach trips captioned “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters” and hiking trips where candid pictures are capturing our adventures through God’s creation.
We should always testify of our love for Christ and spend time with Him, but when did that take the place of showing His wonder in person with our acts and expressions? When did we forget that it is OK for the world to see our “not so filtered" sides? When did our goals become being visual Christians rather than genuine Christians? We try so hard for everyone to see our Christ-like lifestyles. All the while, we are demolishing the very simplicity and purity of being in a true relationship with Him.
Many times, I have found myself feeling less of a Christian because my moments with God aren’t as long as they should be, and--let’s face it--my devotions are many times quickly read right before running into my 8 a.m. Anatomy and Physiology class all while praying that I'm not late because I overslept. My days run relentlessly into one another, and finding time to take a breather seems impossible. How could I possibly manage to earn the title of the perfect Christian? It is as if we are on the ultimate journey for others to see our relationships with Christ, rather than Christ seeing us strive for intimacy with Him.
It wasn’t until I actually began digging in Scripture that I realized it's OK to not be the picture-perfect, Instagram-worthy Christian. "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12).
God does not call us to “outdo each other." Instead, He calls us to serve, encourage and enhance each other, as we are all on the same journey in hopes to end in Heaven to live with Him for all eternity. We are human and God understands. He knows the concerns, desires and constant stress that we students are under.
Instead of striving to be perfect in His presence, strive to let His Presence make you whole, provide rest and restoration and give you the perfect peace. The same One that spoke light into darkness, the same One who uses this world as His footrest, and the same One who took the blow that we rightfully deserved and hung blameless on a cross is madly in love with you. Our sins stopped His heart, our sins drove the nails firmly into the palms of the Son of the Living God, and all the while He was crying out “you are worth it." Despite our inevitable dispositions of rebellion, our countless flaws and the endless moments of failure and mistakes, He still wishes to know every little bit of your perfectly imperfect being. Even in a crowd of millions, He will never miss a thing.
