This should help us. If we turn anywhere else for answers, we’ll be hurting. We have it, but we must accept what God says for things to look better.
I Corinthians 13:9 “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
This is to help us understand what is hard to understand. Here are the answers to the “why” questions. It explains in plain words what is true concerning life at this moment and what is to come. Sometimes we get caught up in the past or get so concerned about the future that we forget now. Now is our biggest problem. What’s the state of your soul and life right now? This is what we’re dealing with. Verse 12 begins with the words “for now.” Let’s look at now. We see why we are where we are. The fact of now is we are imperfect people in an imperfect world. Every moment we live in imperfect ways or times or environment. There are always mistakes in an imperfect life. What would we do without the Perfect One?
We look through a glass of darkness. We see some things—but only in part. There are so many questions about what we see. Sometimes we take God for granted in the good times, but when suffering of some type comes we ask God “why?” The answer is we see through a glass darkly. Every generation has tried to make things perfect. It always eludes us. Its one step forward and two steps back. We’ve seen such advances in technology, but people behave more reckless and foolish than ever. The imperfection is not on God’s part; it’s on ours. The best we can be is like this. Look at the window. With the blinds closed there is mostly darkness. With them partially opened we can see some colors, but we can’t tell what they are. We can see shapes but don’t know exactly what they are. The windows are stained themselves. We see them through a glass darkly. We cannot clear it. We need the One who has the clear experience of what is whole and perfect, Jesus Christ. He has been on both sides of the glass. We need him more now than ever.
We’re saved by our perfect Savior, our High Priest, and the one we can trust. Proverbs says “trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Why? We can only see as good as that window lets us see. The best we can do is live in a partial world; our answer to doing so is Jesus. We experience God in his perfection. The blessings we enjoy are only a taste of what he has. What stands in our way of experiencing the fullness of God? It’s our own imperfections. We’re imperfect physically, mentally, and emotionally, and spiritually. This is due to our own corrupted nature. Our attitudes become “bad-a-tudes.” Our temper becomes tantrums. We can’t control our tongue. The truth is, the best we can do is achieving the partial part. When Jesus comes into our heart ,we have to trust his thinking for salvation and deliverance. His advice is good.
Our partial part is bigger than it needs to be. We have no business getting mad at God or trying to hide from him. We ought to say “thy will be done.” Our imperfection doesn’t have to be as imperfect as it is. We need to come clean with God and repent. If we want a big brownie from the pan, we have to cut bigger pieces. Life has to be cut right. Rightly divide the word of God, study and learn about God. Remove the pieces of the blinds that don’t have to be there. Remove the sins. We still won’t see it all, but we can see it better. The SON-shine will break through. We can know enough of God that the partial won’t bother us. The more we give God, the more we see.
Verse 10 says “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” Perfection may seem like it won’t ever come. It won’t come here, but by faith we can go to it. By faith we can open the shades. We can have as much of God as we want. Our prayer ought to be “help me right now to open my shades a little more.” Notice it is not a question of “if” the perfect will come but “when” it comes. Jesus will come. We will then step into perfection with a fitness of body, soul, and mind. We’ll have perfect surroundings. There will be no evil, no devil, no hospitals, no pain, and everybody will get along. We’ll have perfect duration. Our dream will be reality. We’ll awake to ever be with the Lord in perfect proximity.
Are you keeping a small part from God? If so, you’re having unnecessary imperfection. You’re imperfect enough without adding to it. The glass can become clearer. What do you need to do? Open the shades to see through the glass better. You won’t see clearly now, but one day you will. The partial will become perfect.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 