The Arrogance of Imperfection - Matthew 5:48

 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. - Matthew 5:48

    The world flounders in a quagmire of mediocrity. Yet somehow we have learned to celebrate our inadequacies and grovel in our moral and ethical shortcomings. So much so that we even flippantly respond with a phrase that has become far too universal - “Nobody’s perfect.”
    We reckon ourselves imperfect and reckon true, but despite what many believe - there is no ticket to Paradise within the worldly fetters of imperfection. Our imperfections are the manifestation of our fallen nature, a highway to hell.
    For many, imperfection has become “the noble goal,” the high standard, the benchmark to achieve. It is our raison d’être. We seek the comfort zone of imperfection. We rest in the tranquility of baseness like pigs resting in the mire. It seems, in fact, that there are times when we cannot wait to display and show off our flaws and blemishes. We don’t have to defend ourselves. We merely shrug our shoulders and repeat - “Nobody’s perfect.” We are forever hearing this mantra of the spiritually dead. Nobody is perfect.
    While it is true that none of us are perfect it doesn’t mean that we should brag and boast of our deficiency. We should not revel in it. But we do so because of the deeper underlying problem of our fallen nature. We know we cannot work our way into heaven and we recognize our inability so we arrogantly put forth the erroneous supposition that God will grade us all on a curve. Scripture is very clear: that will not happen because God calls us with a divine command - “Be holy, for I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:16.
    Can we ever aspire to the perfection and holiness that our heavenly Father demands of us? Of course not. But because we are mere humans our pride demands that we boast of something. If not our holiness then we will boast in our baseness. God wants us to humble ourselves, not proudly boast.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9.
    We are fallen human beings but the last thing we should be doing is celebrating our imperfections. If nothing else they should force us to our knees in resolute and remorseful repentance, not celebration. This is the key to our salvation! “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9. We must always remember Christ’s first words to us in Mark 1:15 - “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Repent and believe! This is the solution to our imperfection, not arrogantly boasting of it.
    Does God not love a humble heart?  “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— these, O God, You will not despise.” - Psalm51:17.  Let our inborn imperfections move us not to arrogance but to constant reflection and repentance.