Every choice not to quit,

every due diligence to try our best,

every determination to live our life for God’s glory no matter what “life” throws at us-

will lead us to a place in eternity where our Father will beam His approval at our “tryings”!!

~

Jesus will award His ones who have overcome incredible obstacles and kept faith and hope in His goodness and grace!   We’ll hear those words reverberate throughout time and space. 

“Well done! Good and faithful one! Enter now into the joy of the Lord!”

As we’re watching the Olympics, I’m blown away at the strength, skill, endurance and the countless hours of commitment that it took for them to arrive at such proficiency.  Bethany, on the other hand, exclaims, “That’s so cool!  I think I can do that.”

However, PERFECTION is as elusive as mist in the morning.  We rank and qualify, judge and award numbers, all trying to determine “who” is the most perfect. The reality is most of humanity will never come close to that kind of athletic perfection.  Where does our sense of satisfaction and worth come from? What about the masses of humanity who are unable to “measure up” on the human measuring scale?  Is their worth as a person any less than the one who stands and receives a medal or recognition?

While we applaud their incredible achievements, we should remember Jesus gave equal status and value to everyone by saying,

“IF YOU HAVE DONE IT TO THE LEAST OF THESE, IT’S THE SAME AS HAVING DONE IT FOR ME!”

That is the measure of worth.

~

(“continuing reading is not for the faint of heart or the politically correct”)

But I’m afraid.

It’s fantastic to celebrate achievement!  It’s fabulous to strive for the gold.  But we can not celebrate seeking perfection because that position of glory belongs only to One- God!

Our society is going down the slippery slope of seeking PERFECTION.  I’ve shared that 9 out of 10 babies diagnosed with downs syndrome will be aborted because of a diagnostic tool that allows us to ferret out their “imperfection”.   Our own son, Micah, and his wonderful wife, Adrienne, are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their baby girl in 1 to 2 weeks! 🙂

However, at the “appointed” time in her pregnancy, they were not only “offered” the “trisomy test” but were pressured to have it!  When they replied “We have a little sister who has downs syndrome and the test wouldn’t change our minds.  We want this baby no matter what.” they were again “offered” the diagnostic? or should I call it dealing with “it” before “it” becomes a problem test.

Our “new” mandated health care insures the taxpayers footing the bill for not only birth control but ALL genetic testing for selective reduction!   The new PACA’s provision for no-cost preventive care services for women, insurance policies will be required to provide no-cost prenatal genetic testing starting August 1, 2012.  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thinplaces/2012/07/supreme-court-unexpectedly-upholds-regulatory-elimination-of-down-syndrome/#more-2712 (see source)  

Sounds great?  “Preventive” is ABORTION- killing and doing away with the “imperfect”, the “less than”, the “undesireable”. We must speak every word in an attitude of love, but we can’t stay silent just because we might hurt someones feelings.  People need to hear the truth and know the facts before they can make an informed decision.

It isn’t just downs syndrome that’s being systematically weeded out of our society! Many other genetic conditions and even sex selection is happening, based only on our own preferences! What if in our quest for perfection we begin to define what perfection is based upon our own prejudices?

 Can you say eugenics?  Can you say ethnic cleansing?  Can you say Hitler?

Can you say: no one will ever know if this selective disposal happens because it is happening in the privacy of a woman’s womb instead of the visible death camps and gas showers? 

How did this issue become political?  God is the one who gifted us with CHOICE but He explicitly tells us what choice to make- “I set before you this day two choices- death or life, but I say CHOOSE LIFE!  Our God wants life for us- so He can live with us, draw near to us, help us grow and become compassionate-  even as He is full of mercy and compassion with our own frailty.  If we ever achieve a “perfect” society- (which is impossible since only God is perfect) our society would become the most intolerant of all; devoid of compassion, lacking in humility, unable to fathom the Father’s love He has for all of His creation- great and small.

Surprising Treasure: I know where the treasure lies.  I’ve found the GOLD!  It’s not in seeking a “perfect” life for me, avoiding unpleasant and difficult situations in this life. The treasure is found in embracing the LIFE God has blessed me with- the good, the bad, and the ugly! There is a joy in loving life but even more awaits us in eternity! I will continue to fix my eyes on the PRIZE that awaits in the next, when Jesus will look deep into my heart and motives and judge if I “loved the least of these.”