BiblicalInsights.net

Christian living demands fullness of consecration to God (Rom. 12:1-2).  Striving for excellence is an important part of the Christian life.  We must never lower the standard of righteousness to fit our weaknesses and transgressions.  Instead, we must constantly endeavor to overcome these shortcomings and attain the quality of life that is worthy of our calling.  Christlikeness demands striving for excellence.  Can you think of a nobler life than that of Jesus Christ?  Peter declares, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (I Pet. 2:21-23).  Peter wrote these words immediately after instructing his readers to follow the example of Jesus.  The word example (hupogrammos) means “an under-writing…hence a writing-copy, an example” (Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, II, 54).  The example Jesus left us is perfect in all aspects.  To dedicate one’s life to follow Christ, is a commitment to excellence!
Why is this so important?  I recently read why 99.9% isn’t good enough.  Consider the following facts which illustrate what it would be like if things were done right 99.9% of the time.
-1 hour of unsafe drinking water every month
-2 unsafe plane landings per day at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago
-16,000 pieces of mail lost by the U. S. Postal Service every hour
-20,000 incorrect drug prescriptions per year
-500 incorrect surgical operatons each week
-50 newborn babies dropped at birth by doctors every day
-22,000 checks deducted from the wrong bank accounts each hour
-32,000 missed heartbeats per person per year
-315 entries in Webster’s Dictionary would be misspelled
-103,260 income tax returns would be processed incorrectly during the year
-5.5 million cases of soft drinks produced would be flat

     A small amount of imperfection can produce a large amount of undesirable results!  Perhaps we should consider the consequences of one sin.  “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guiltyof all” (James 2:10).  He is condemned by all of the law when he violates any portion of it.  One sin condemns.  One sin necessitates forgiveness from God.
Our imperfection is only made perfect through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.  The spiritual consequences of sin can only be remedied through the atonement secured through the death of Jesus on the cross. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (I Peter 2:24).  Forgiveness for our sin perfects us in God’s sight.  We are spiritually healed and strive for the excellence of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Yes, we strive to imitate our perfect example–Jesus Christ.