I Live In A Perfect World

I live in a perfect world.

A world full of beauty. Perfect beauty.

Have you ever looked closely at a flowers design? How about a snowflake under a microscope? And the stars that hang in the night sky? What about the carpet of grass we walk on, or the waterfalls that cascade down the cliffs in mountainous regions? We could admire all the various types of trees...the Amazon, the Rain Forests, the flat lands. I love a fresh Spring rain, and even some of the "gully washes" that produce thunder and lightening. I love the smell of the rain and it's aftermath. I love hearing the pitter-patter of the rain as it hits the sides of our house. There's just something calming about all that to me. I could fill this entire blog with the perfect beauty of this earth. There is a never ending list of beauty. And it's all been placed here for our enjoyment through God's spoken word. And even though mankind has tried to replicate God's perfection, by using our hands and minds, and gathering materials we've scooped out of earths elements and mixed together, we have to agree that in the beginning, it all came from our perfect God. Every element used to create. Even our ability to replicate (or recreate). We've sought wisdom and knowledge, and it's been given to us. Just as He promised (Matthew 7:7) Perfection!

But what about human life on this perfect planet? What about mankind and all their messes, their discontentment, their sullen lifestyle, their argumentative nature, their ill-will toward others, the foul verbiage that spews over on occasion. Maybe it's not really foul, but just possibly they've chosen to make things about their self, not considering another's feelings. The hurt, the pain, the unnecessary rudeness. Disrespect for another. What about random killings, abortion, physical & mental abuse, child pornography, and human trafficking? What about all that stuff? How does that happen in a perfect world?

Glad you asked. I've pondered the saying, "If it were a PERFECT world...", on several occasions. I've always wanted to respond with, "It IS a perfect world," but never have. Too afraid of being ostracized. And I'm relatively sure there will be a few, in not many, that will even now disagree. And that's okay. It's just something that has been floating around in my head lately. A musing of mine.

Why I think it to be a perfect world, when it seems that imperfect abounds, is simply because with all the imperfection, we are forced to either lean into a holy God, or walk in a fog. If we choose to petition God, we become teachable, even changeable. We grow in patience, understanding, showing grace, mercy, and possibly, we become a bit more "perfect" and begin to see perfection in a much different light. If we choose the fog, it only makes our own piece of the world not so "perfect." Yet, it is remains perfect still. Because we've chosen to stick our heads in the sand and refuse to lift our heads up, does not diminish the fact we live in a perfect world. It may have a few stains on it, here and there, because we ourselves are imperfect. And we may still groan for redemption, yet it is all perfect. Our world remains perfect. What we do with our piece of it is up to us.

I think it almost funny, how God created all this beauty and then added humanity...which He later  regretted, by-the-way (Genesis 6:6).

There is a Scripture that I love. It comes from Jeremiah 29:11. It says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God had told the Israelites they would prosper as they sought the peace and prosperity of the city they had been exiled to (they were in exile because of their disobedience, and they were about to hear the plans He had for them). As the city prospered, so would they. They had to be part of the reason the city they had been exiled to, prospered.

There was a condition on this promise, as there are on all promises. God is not the great Santa Clause in the sky. He has promised to bless the work of our hands (Deuteronomy 28:12), not give us everything we want...but all that we work for. It all makes perfect sense, right? If the city we live in is a prosperous one, the likelihood of us being in a position to prosper is pretty high. And how does a city become prosperous? By those who live and work there...that's how. God's perfection comes to those who are willing to make an effort to make others lives better, while providing for their own needs.

As we walk out our journey in this perfect world, we must remember that the best growth comes through persevering through trials, not escaping them entirely. And when we learn perseverance, we find surprising joy. Perfection!

Here I'll remain, in my piece of perfection...in Mary's World.