Aim High!
By: Demario Carter

A Definite Aim

If you are going to succeed in any line, there is something demanded of you. In the book Education, the servant of the Lord says, “Success in any line demands a definite aim. He who would achieve true success in life must keep steadily in view the aim worthy of his endeavor.” – Education, p. 262. Whether you are going to be a physician, teacher, lawyer, housekeeper, or pastor, you must have a definite aim if you are to succeed. But as a child of God, what should be your aim? What should every man who profess Christ aim for? Jesus tells us what we should aim for. “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” Luke 6:40. Jesus here tells us that, if we are to be as the Master, we are to aim for perfection. Nothing less than perfection of character can equate to the likeness of Christ.

What Perfection is NOT

Now when it comes to understanding perfection, it is critical for us to recognize what perfection is NOT.

First, perfection is not a perfect physical body. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, the apostle Paul says, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” Not only did Paul have this “thorn,” but he understood its purpose; to keep him humble and depended upon the grace of Christ. Sometimes God allows sickness or affliction to keep us focused on the riches of Christ and not on the rags of this earth. Paul understood that the time will come when God “… shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:21. The fact that our bodies are base and despicable shows that they can never be perfect.

Secondly, perfection is also not an exemption from temptation. As long as we are in this vile body, we will be tempted. Paul says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13. Although we will be tempted, this verse shows that, whatever the test may be, there is a way of escape. But this does not mean you will not be tempted. You will be tempted, but being tempted is not the same as sinning. You are not a sinner because you are tempted. The devil tempted Jesus, but Jesus never sinned. Perfection is not an exemption from temptation; you will still have to fight against temptations, both from within and from without. But although the temptations to sin are all around us, we do not have to yield. John Wesley, one of the co-founders of Methodist church, once made the following statement: “Thoughts concerning evil are not always evil thoughts; … a thought concerning sin, and a sinful thought, are widely different.”– John Wesley, Sermons on Several Occasions, p. 330. Did Jesus have any thoughts concerning sin? Yes, He did! When the religious leaders brought the woman who was caught in adultery to Jesus, they mentioned to Jesus, in order to test Him, the fact that she was caught in the very act of adultery. Jesus had to think about that because they communicated such thoughts to Him. In other words, He had thoughts concerning that sin and all the sin that was around Him, but He Himself never indulged in even a sinful thought. His thought process was always righteous, pure, and true. And we are told that he that is perfect will be as his Master. The apostle James says, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12. In other words, although you are tempted, the victory will be sure to you if you stand firm under the pressure of that temptation. This is what God is wanting from each of His children, to stand firm in spite of the pressure. No one can ever have an excuse for sinning. No one can ever blame his act or thought of transgression on God or Satan. Your indulgence of sin is your own choice. But just because you are tempted doesn’t mean you have sinned.

Thirdly, perfection is not a perfect knowledge. You must not think that you must know it all before you can achieve perfection or righteousness. You will never know it all. And even if you did, knowledge in and of itself does not make one perfect. Paul says, “O, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33. So since perfection is not a perfect body, exemption from temptation, or a perfect knowledge, what then is perfection? If we are to aim for this perfection, we must understand what we are aiming for and keep this aim steadily in view. Let’s compare a few scriptures.

What Perfection Is

In the song of Moses we read: “He is the Rock, his work is perfect …” Deuteronomy 32:4. Compare this with what the prophet Samuel says. “As for God, his way is perfect …” 2 Samuel 22:31. So God’s work and God’s way are perfect. Now add one more text to this: “The law of the LORD is perfect…” Psalms 19:7. Notice what these three passages teach concerning perfection. God’s work, God’s way, and God’s law are perfect. And we also know that God’s work, way, and law are righteous. So if His work, way, and law are perfect and righteous, then we can see that perfection is simply the righteousness of God. It is His righteousness and not our own. In other words, moral perfection is the righteousness of God, and if we therefore attain God’s righteousness we consequently attain moral perfection. They are synonymous. If we have His righteousness both imputed and imparted to us, then we have His perfection, and in His eyes we are as the Master.

How Perfection is Attained

But how can we, as weak, sinful mortals, attain this righteousness? Paul says, “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ …” Romans 3:21, 22. Here we are told that the righteousness of God is by the faith of Jesus Christ. There are many faiths in the world; Hindu, Buddha, Mohammed, your own, etc. But there is only one faith whereby we can attain the righteousness of God. Paul further says, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Philippians 3:9. In other words, we can only attain the righteousness of God by the faith that Jesus gives. It is His faith. We must receive it. Only the faith of Jesus, which is given to every man by measure, can lift us from the depths of sin to the heights of righteousness. We are told, “The faith of Jesus. It is talked of, but not understood. What constitutes the faith of Jesus, that belongs to the third angel’s message? Jesus becoming our sin-bearer that He might become our sin-pardoning Saviour. He was treated as we deserve to be treated. He came to our world and took our sins that we might take His righteousness. And faith in the ability of Christ to save us amply and fully and entirely is the faith of Jesus.” — Selected Messages Bk 3, 172.

What the Faith of Jesus Accomplishes

How was the faith of Jesus displayed in the life of Jesus? What did this faith lead Jesus to do while on this earth? In writing to the Hebrews, Paul says, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15. Notice that, although tempted as every man is, Jesus was somehow enabled to resist all sin. Compare this with what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Jesus knew no sin, but that does not mean He had no knowledge of sin. Remember, thoughts concerning sin and sinful thoughts are widely different. In the beginning, Adam knew Eve. This “knowledge” was an intimate, personal bonding. So when the Bible says that Jesus knew no sin, it means that He never came into personal intimacy with sin. He never indulged the act or thought of sin. Peter says, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” 1 Peter 2:21, 22. This is what the faith of Jesus enabled Him to do. Do you have this faith? This is the faith He wants to give His people at this time; a faith that knows no sin. Some of you are still having intimacy with sin. You have a personal bond with sin because you are still walking with it, holding on to it, and even indulging it. God is trying to set you free from that sin and separate it from you forever. He, Himself, is wanting to have a personal bond with you.

But how was Jesus enabled to keep this faith and know no sin? In the next verse Peter says, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” 1 Peter 2:23. Although Christ was ridiculed, despised, and rejected by men; although He was reviled, threatened, and persecuted, He committed His life into the hands of Him who judges righteously. He committed His case into His Father’s hands, and He knew that God’s way, His work, and His law would vindicate the truth. This is what we must learn to do on a daily basis, moment by moment, in spite of what we are dealing with; in spite of suffering, trials and testing. A.T. Jones once said, “Faith is the depending upon the word of God only, and expecting that word only, to do what the word says. — Alonzo T. Jones, ARSH January 17, 1899. Friends, we must learn to commit our soul into Christ’s keeping and trust implicitly and completely in the Savior. We must remain faithful and focused, steadily keeping in view that aim worthy of our endeavors. Perfection demands a definite aim! “As the Son of God lived by faith in the Father, so are we to live by faith in Christ. So fully was Jesus surrendered to the will of God that the Father alone appeared in His life. Although tempted in all points like as we are, He stood before the world untainted by the evil that surrounded Him. Thus we also are to overcome as Christ overcame.” — The Desire of Ages, 389.

Again, what is the Christian’s aim? I close with these words from A.T. Jones:

“Perfection, perfection of character, is the Christian goal — perfection attained in human flesh in this world. Christ attained it in human flesh in this world and thus made and consecrated a way by which, in Him, every believer can attain it. … Perfection is the Christian’s goal, and the High Priesthood and ministry of Christ in the true sanctuary is the only way by which any soul can attain this true goal in this world. ‘Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary.’ Psalms. 77:13.” — A.T. Jones, The Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection, p. 45.

Even though the aim may look impossible, God has spoken, and we only need to take Him at His word. We can live a life without sin, only by the faith of Jesus.