"To a perfect man." "To the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." There is nothing vague about these words, no uncertain drifting, no aimlessness. This is the expression of a builder who has seen the blueprint.

The redemption that is in Christ has a specific Divine beginning, a specific Divine completion, and a specific Divine process and program from start to finish. The work is of God. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end."

God, the master Builder. God is a builder, a creator. Any person who has ever built or created anything knows that every bit of effort and material that goes into the work takes its significance from the completed piece. The builder works on and on with the finished product in his imagination. His motivation arises from his anticipation of the joy and satisfaction he will derive from possessing and sharing his creation.

The process of creating is altered if the piece never can be completed, if the parts never can be shaped and put together so there is function and beauty in the product.

The finish line. What joy can be had from knowing that no matter how hard or how long one perseveres at something he can never complete it? He can never arrive at the goal?

One of the strongest motivations of the victorious saint is that he indeed can complete what God has given him to do:

... I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:4)

... I have finished my course,... (II Timothy 4:7)

What runner can drive his body to the last searing thrust when he knows there is no finish line?

It is no marvel that numerous Christian believers do not become enthusiastic over the concept of the perfecting of the Church, and of themselves as individual members of the Body of Christ. They do not believe the goal actually is attainable. Why try?

Paul's attitude toward perfection. Paul does not speak as though the goal of the Christian discipleship is unattainable:

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (Philippians 3:12-15)

These are not the words of a builder with no product in mind. These are not the words of a runner on a track with no finish line. These are not the words of a man with no attainable goal.

Nor are these the words of most of our churches. One is more likely to hear, "Do your best, but everyone knows that no person in this world is perfect." With our mouth we confess defeat rather than the Divinely given victory that is in Christ our Lord.

To be continued.