Christian Living

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THE PERFECT YES,
PERFECT NO!

By Chuck Johnson

I understand this title may seem somewhat contradictory in nature, but I assure you there is a vast difference. This difference was brought to light by the Holy Spirit during a private time of praise, worship and thanksgiving. Allow me to set the foundation, and then I will get into the revelation I received from the Holy Spirit, on the difference between perfect, and perfect. One of the many things I am thankful for is my wife of over seventeen years. We met in a singles group at our church, and to be quite honest, did not really like each other when we first met. In my prayer time, and time of thanksgiving, as I reflect over the past eighteen plus years, I remind myself of the blessing God bestowed on me in February of 1986. I oft times ask God to help me to, delight myself in the wife of my youth, Proverbs 5:18. Not that this is difficult, but I am a human being with a fallen, yet redeemed nature. God in turn reminds me of Proverbs 18:22, whoever finds a wife, finds a good thing, and obtains the favor of the Lord.


On this particular morning I had been thinking of a conversation I had recently had with my oldest daughter. She had a friend that had been through a recent divorce, and was trying to be of comfort to them. She told them that she wanted a marriage like her dads. You see, she had seen the bad, and the good in marriage, she was only four years old when her mother and I divorced, she did not have the example of a Christian marriage growing up that she should have, and was herself in her second marriage. She grew up over two thousand miles from my wife and I, so our influence was limited to continual prayer, and summer visits. It was humbling to hear my daughter say that she wanted a marriage like her dads, and yet it was also gratifying to realize that she could be happy indeed if she and her husband, emulated the marriage her step-mom and I have. In our over eighteen years together, we have never had a fight, an argument, or raised our voices towards one another. I know this goes against the common wisdom of our modern psychoanalysts and marriage counselors today, but praise God, that we walk not in the council of the ungodly, Psalm 1:1.


Now to get to the difference between ‘the perfect’ and ‘perfect’. Webster’s dictionary defines perfect as “being entirely without fault or defect”. Now we all know that there was only one human being that fit this standard, and it was definitely not you or me! No, we are born into sin, and thankfully redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, however we will not be like Him until we see Him, face to face, 1 John 3:2. I have the perfect wife for me, but, I do not have a perfect wife, and likewise my wife will tell you that she has ‘the perfect’ husband, but, and I know this may come as a surprise to my family and friends, she does not have a perfect husband. Allow me draw a couple of analogies for you. Let’s say that you have a coat that has some imperfections in it. Maybe it has a crooked seam, or perhaps one arm is an inch longer than the other. You and I would agree that this coat is not perfect, however, if you give this coat to a person who has no coat at all, it is a ‘perfect’ coat for them, or perhaps you know someone who needs a car to get to their job, and you give them your old car, it may not be perfect, maybe it has a ripped seat, and the stereo doesn’t work, however, it is ‘the perfect’ car for them.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (JAMES 1:17). God is not a respecter of persons, He desires to, and will, bless every marriage with peace and joy. In Genesis 2:18, we read that God said “It is not good for man to be alone, I will make him a helper comparable to him.” And in Genesis 2:23 we read “This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh;…”. My wife and I are not perfect, but since we allowed God to put us together, we are ‘perfect’ for each other.


If you are married and desire a “the perfect” marriage, I’m here to tell you that this is not an unreasonable request, nor is it unattainable, it is God’s will for you, and if you will permit Him, God will bring it to pass. There is only one stipulation, and that is that you “…seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, then all these things shall be added unto you” (MATTHEW 6:33). If you are single, stop working so hard to find the ‘Perfect” mate, put it in God’s hands. Make God your first priority, and He will do the rest. You see God did not give me a ‘perfect’ wife, however, God did give me ‘the perfect’ wife. Obviously I am writing this from the perspective of a husband, so I will end with the following “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts in her; So he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.” (PROVERBS 31:10-12) NKJV.


Thank you Lord for “the perfect” wife for me!!!!!

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