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Scripture tells us that as children of God, we have been chosen to be holy and blameless. If that’s true, and it is, we should be taking holiness very seriously. It’s similar to the zero defects philosophy of quality assurance that many companies have adopted. No errors are acceptable, and with that mindset, fewer errors are made. That is in contrast to the common way most of us excuse ourselves by saying “Nobody’s perfect.”
We talked about the difference it would make on an assembly line if we worked with a zero defects mindset. But if I’m the manager of that assembly line, I know that I’ve got to give adequate training to have zero defects. I can’t expect zero defects without good training.
Paul wrote to young Timothy to “train yourself to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7b). We need a training program for a zero defects spiritual life, and of course that means Bible study, fellowship, good preaching and teaching, etc. Are you training yourself to live a holy life? With the wealth of materials available to us in this country, much of it free, how could we ever say we didn’t know what to do?
Now perfection is different for various stages. A two-year-old may be perfect for a two-year-old, and I may be very satisfied with her growth, her behavior, her progress at age two. But if at age five she is still at the level of a two-year-old in her development, then something is very wrong.
The same is true in the Christian walk. With more time, experience and knowledge under our belts, the quality standards go up. So, we need to keep in mind that holy and blameless living is a growing experience. We are accountable to God based on where he knows we should be at the various stages of our Christian life.
And remember that God, who has called us to this zero defects standard, has promised to perform it in us. This is one place our assembly line analogy breaks down, for we have a Manager, the Holy Spirit, who sets the standard for us, and then proceeds to live within us, giving us the power to perform, and who never leaves our side, but is always there to guide us.
Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Christ can live a holy life in you—yes, in you!
Actually, isn’t it exciting to start to think that we can live our lives with zero defects?