Never Perfect

Writing is an art. It’s an expression. It’s never perfected. It can be improved and refined but because it’s a form of expression, each person arrives at their own opinion - the way they perceive it, the way they translate it, what they assume about it and what they conclude.

Then I think of the Bible: God’s perfect written Word, inscripted by human hands, inspired by God Himself, for us. (1) The perfect writing. (2) The only perfect book to be read by imperfect people. (3) That is why there is so much division from this one book. Mere humans attempting to translate, articulate, understand, and communicate who God is. Although we will never know God fully and completely in our life here on earth, His written Word reveals His character to us. The more we meditate on His written Word and hide His Word in our hearts, the more He reveals Himself to us. And we can look forward to knowing Him completely when we see Him face to face - God on His throne and we on our knees. (4) We can only imagine that moment.

And this book, this perfect writing became flesh among us. (5) God’s perfect display of love was the sacrifice of His sinless Son. His death upon a cross. (6)

So as we open this perfect book, may we be humbled as we read its words. As we dig deeper and seek to know God more, may we remember our place and what we truly deserve: death and separation from Him. (7) May we be reminded that we are flawed human beings serving a perfect God. A God who loves us completely and desires our devotion to seeking Him. May this be our motivation to continue digging deeper into our knowledge of Him. The more we read His love letter to us, the deeper our understanding of His love for us will grow and, in turn, will be on display for others to see and God to be glorified! (8, 9)

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

-Matthew 5:14-16

I will never write perfectly. I will never know or understand God perfectly while alive on this earth. But it is the pursuit and the journey of both of these things that will bring me to a better place. (10, 11) A place of peace. A place of closeness to God. And a confidence in the One who chose me.

In Him,

Katie Karlson

Scripture References

(1) “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

-2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

(2) “The law of the Lord is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure,

making wise the simple;

the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;”

-Psalm 19:7-8 ESV

(3) “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.”

-Ecclesiastes 7:20 ESV

(4) “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.[c] All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”

-1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

(5) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

-John 1:14 ESV

(6) “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

-Philippians 2:8 ESV

(7) “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,”

-2 Thessalonians 1:9 ESV

(8) “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

-Philippians 3:12 ESV

(9) “Oh, that we might know the Lord!

Let us press on to know him”.

-Hosea 6:3a NLT

(10) “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

-Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

(11) “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,”

-2 Peter 1:3 ESV