When God created mankind, He created us in His image, according to His likeness (Gen. 1:26). He created us that we might be kings and priests, living before His eyes. Adam and Eve were to be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it (Gen 1:28). But they were also to tend the garden and keep it (Gen. 2:15). I believe this was no ordinary gardening, with a hoe or a shovel, but rather a specific type of priestly duty. But that argument is for another blog. When Perfection creates something according to His likeness, that something is not perfect in itself. We were made like God, but we are not God. The Fall of Adam and Eve made that very clear. Since the Fall, God has been moving forward in His plan to dwell with us again, and we are moving forward in our plan to take things back to before the Fall -- when we had unashamed, raw communion with our Creator.
The Fall itself was evidence of our unwavering sinful desire to be God. It wasn't enough for us that we were made in His image, according to His likeness. We had to be the Omnipotent Creator. So, along with our desire to go back to the beginning -- when we saw Him face to face -- we are concurrently seeking our fleshly mortal desire to become immortal and live as Perfection Himself. This fact finds its evidence in almost every area of current society. Scientists are searching for new ways to extend a humans' life span. Cosmetic companies and dermatological industries are coming out with creams to make you look younger for longer. We have plastic surgery, drugs, diets, and talk shows that teach you how to look 'perfect' for longer.
But not only do we have physical remedies for these desires, we also have Facebook, Twitter, and any blog or social networking site that will let us create our own ideal of perfection. We follow the trends found on the latest Pin (from Pinterest) and let our Instagram rule our idea of artistic and beautiful. We're more interested in the new drink made in a mason jar than we are about being ourselves. We put the newest trend before honesty, and the newest phone before reality. Not only that, we compete with each to see who has the best of it all! I cannot tell you how many times people have thrown the fact that they have an iPhone 4s in my face, when I only have an iPhone 4. WHO CARES?! It is just a phone, and you won't have that phone in a few years cause the iPhone 7x will be out and yours won't be cool anymore.
Realizing you're a work-in-progress doesn't make you less than others. You may have it all together on Facebook. But typically, the people seem like they have it the most together are the one who are falling apart the most. We shouldn't be so consumed with our Instagram and our Tumblr that we forget what we were made for: to be kings and priests living before the eyes of our Creator. We were made for communion with God. We were made to dwell with Him as in the days of the garden of Eden.
I am a work-in-progress. I am by no means perfect and I definitely don't have it all together. Sometimes I get discouraged by that fact, but then I remember why I'm really here. It's not to have it all together. It's to be together with my Creator. Perfect people are boring. Real people are a treasure on this earth, and hard to find. I want to be real and raw and genuine no matter who comes my way. And if you don't like the real me, that's ok. I am created in His image and according to His likeness. I am His beloved daughter, and He is my beloved Creator. Why do I need man's approval to do His will or to be who He's created me to be?
Being a work-in-progress is a path of honesty and humility. God calls us to be perfect as He is perfect, but He also commits to complete the work He has started in us. That means we've all got a long journey ahead of us. So let's stop trying to be God, and let God work in us. We're all a work-in-progress, whether we choose to believe it or not. But the key word here is progress.
Prayer Starter:
Lord, thank You that You are God and I am man. Thank You for creating me in Your image and according to Your likeness. I realize my faults in trying to be something or someone I'm not, and I vow to live honestly before Your eyes and before the eyes of others. Jesus, I want to see Your face. I want to hear Your voice. Come and work in me. Cleanse me with Your blood and make me into Your vessel of light and truth. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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