Perfection

Awhile ago, one of my professors was teaching about Creation and the Garden of Eden.  In his lecture, he focused on a phrase that, while repeated over and over throughout Genesis 1, has often been misinterpreted in our modern context.

 "And God saw that it was good."

Good.  As we stretch our imaginations to envision what the Garden of Eden looked like, Creation unspoiled by sin and death and decay, often we envision a place of perfection.  A garden vibrant with trees in full bloom, the fragrance of flowers filling the air, animals living in complete peace, humanity at it's wisest and grandest; we envision a world in which all inhabitants thrive together rather than competitively stepping on one another to get ahead.  We envision perfection.

Yet God doesn't declare His creation as perfect.  He calls it good.  In fact, God commands humans and animals to multiply and fill the earth; He blesses Adam and Eve and says to them "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground." (Gen 1:28).  God creates, then invites His creation to join in fulfilling His plan; He invites us to take part in His glorious design.

As a recovering perfectionist, this is good news for me.  It removes the burden of perfectionism from my shoulders.  God did not create me in my fullest forms but invites me into His work, giving me space to grow and learn in Him.  He creates me in humble form that I may rely on Him always instead of pridefully puffing myself up through my own deeds and character.  Like a little child, God invites me to follow Him as He leads and guides me for His name sake.

Sappy Movies

Those who know me know that I'm not generally a fan of sappy movies; I'm not drawn to the "happily ever after" media, the tales that neatly get wrapped with a bow in one setting.  My friends tease me about my love for sad movies.  Truth is, I'm drawn to sad movies because they seem to better mirror reality; life is difficult; it doesn't get worked out after a 30 minute episode.

Earlier this week I was watching a movie in one of my classes.  It dealt with a lot of difficult issues, so initially I liked it.  And then the ending: it ended with the kid getting out of the psych ward after 5 days and meeting a girlfriend there and his buddies all getting better and the coveted pizza party celebrated.  Blah!  Way to ruin what felt like a descent film by throwing a Hollywood ending on it.

As this thought crossed my mind, I was convicted in my spirit.  Wait, maybe this isn't as far fetched as I first judged.  As Christians, aren't we promised a day in which there will be no more tears, crying, pain, or death (Rev 21)?  Don't we have the hope of a Redeemer who will return and restore His world to become what He originally created it to be?  Don't we have a Conqueror who will once and for all defeat crafty Sin and Death?  Aren't we promised a happy ending in which our God and King returns, bringing us into right relationship with Him, creation, and one another?

Perhaps Hollywood doesn't have it all wrong.  Yes, we currently live in a broken world filled with heartache and pain; we see it everyday in the news and in our own lives.  But there is a greater reality, one that we often cannot see: God's reality of shalom and hope and prosperity, His original creation.  And further, His promise to restore His world to what it once was.  The Easter story proves that we are promised a happy ending.

Come, Lord Jesus, come.