Simple formula: in heaven perfection cannot blend with imperfection

Let’s just say there is a heaven, which, of course, would have to be a place of perfection by definition. A place of perfect love, perfect joy, perfect peace, perfect laughter, perfect dancing, perfect singing, perfect beauty, perfect all. Now, naturally enough, I want to be there, participating in this perfect place, forever. Who wouldn’t? But, how can I be there as I am? For I have my many, many imperfections, which even if they diminish (that is, if I am Holy enough, which I am mostly not) these will never wholly go away  – my weaknesses, my hang-ups, my tantrums, my selfishness, my ego-trips, my fears, my hates, my aggressiveness, my judgements, my disappointments, my all about me-ness. So, as Groucho Marx wouldn’t join a club who would have him as a member, I couldn’t ever join heaven as I am, as I would definitely spoil it. And, of course, this very simple formula is the same for you too!

What can we do then? We cannot be perfect on our own efforts, certainly, as our efforts, however hard we try, are tainted by these imperfections in the first place; and we would be very foolish or deluded if we thought we could break this ancient Catch-22. So the only option is to believe in a God who washes us clean, taking our imperfections away from us. But how does he do this? He makes himself into a kind of divine piece of blotting paper, where the stains from our lives are removed and placed on him, and where he becomes our imperfections in order to make us perfect (and see 2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, although we can’t make ourselves perfect for sure, we can trust in a God who became human in order for him to make us perfect through his love. In other words, he makes everything his fault and not ours by dying for us, and so we can now enter heaven, assured that we are clothed with his perfection. 


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