Compared to Perfection

Thought for the day

A man walks into the street and manages to get a taxi just going by. He gets into the taxi, and the cabby says, "Perfect timing. You're just like Frank."

Passenger: "Who?"
Cabby: "Frank Feldman. He's a guy who did everything right - all the time. Like my coming along when you needed a cab, things happened like that to Frank Feldman every single time."

Passenger: "There are always a few clouds over everybody."
Cabby: "Not Frank Feldman. He was a terrific athlete. He could have won the Grand-Slam at tennis. He could golf with the pros. He sang like an opera baritone and danced like a Broadway star and you should have heard him play the piano. He was an amazing guy."

Passenger: "Sounds like he was something really special."
Cabby: "There's more.......He had a memory like a computer. Could remember everybody's birthday. He knew all about wine, which foods to order and which fork to eat them with. He could fix anything. Not like me. I change a fuse, and the whole street blacks out. But Frank Feldman, he could do everything right."

Passenger. "Wow, some guy then."
Cabby: "He always knew the quickest way to go in traffic and avoid traffic jams, not like me, I always seem to get stuck in them. But Frank, he never made a mistake."

Passenger. "Mmm, there's not many like him around."
Cabby: "And he really knew how to treat a woman and make her feel good and never answer her back even if she was in the wrong; and his clothing was always immaculate, shoes highly polished too - he was the perfect man! He never made a mistake. No one could ever measure up to Frank Feldman."

Passenger: "An amazing fellow. How did you meet him?"
Cabby: "Well, I never actually met Frank."

Passenger: "Then how do you know so much about him?"
Cabby: "I married his widow."

It's hard to live in the shadow of someone great. That's true not only in marriage, but in other areas as well. Those of you who are younger children may have constantly been compared to your older siblings ("Why can't you bring home good grades like your brother?!"). You may have this problem in the workplace if you have replaced someone who was a particularly good worker ("Bob didn't seem to have any trouble meeting his sales quota. Why do you?")

As Christians, we face a similar difficulty in that our goal is to follow after the example of Jesus Christ. The problem with our attempt to do that is that Jesus had no sin, and any comparison we make is going to fall far short! "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in his steps: 'Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth.' " (I Peter 2:21-22)

There is a big difference, though, between Jesus and others whom we may seek to emulate. Christ not only set the standard for us, but he seeks to strengthen us as we resolve to follow his example. "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted." (Hebrews 2:18). "And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all..." (I Thess. 3:12).

Thanks be to God for not leaving us to feel helpless at our inability to "measure up", but rather strengthens us as we grow closer and closer to that perfect example.

Verses

Hebrews 11:1

Faith is the confidence that the things which as yet we only hope for really do exist. It is the conviction of the reality of the things which as yet are out of sight.

Exodus 15:26

and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you."

Luke 10:42

and yet only one thing is really necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion and she shall not be deprived of it."

Hebrews 10:35

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

Proverbs 13:22

A good man leaves an inheritance to his descendants, but the sinner's hoard passes to the righteous.

Prayer

Father, we want to be your faithful follower as You fulfill Your purpose in our lives. The Psalmist traced Your hand to the secret place where all Your ordained plans were written for his life even before he drew his first breath. We too can trace Your hand in the origin of our birth right up to the present day in which we close out another year. You have ordained the trials, the victories, the losses, the gains and all the paths laid out for us even before we were conceived in our mother's womb. We trust You for the days ahead and new year that lies before us that You will supply needed wisdom and staying power for the challenges that are certain to come as they did for Moses, Daniel, Paul, for other believers throughout the centuries and for those in our present day. We will not fear or dread the future as we look ahead through eyes of faith. The victory is on the horizon because of the conquering power of our soon coming King! Amen.