Perfection emanates from God, the infinite source of all good. God's clear directions for achieving perfection were recorded quite early in human history. "Walk before me," He commanded Abram, "and be thou perfect" (Gen. 17:1). Or, according to "A New Translation of the Bible" by James Moffatt, "Live ever mindful of my presence, and so be blameless." The command seems to indicate, to one student of Christian Science at least, that Abram was to live day by day so continually conscious of God's presence that this consciousness should lead to the demonstration of man's inherent perfection. In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ Jesus commanded (Matt. 5:48), "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." In this connection Mary Baker Eddy writes (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, pp. 253, 254), "The divine demand, 'Be ye therefore perfect,' is scientific, and the human footsteps leading to perfection are indispensable." Anything classified by Mrs. Eddy as indispensable must surely have our prayerful attention. Where, then, do the human footsteps begin?
The desire to take human footsteps toward perfection is born in the experience of some individuals during what Charles Kingsley once referred to as "divine discontent." This frequently builds up into a sharp sense of dissatisfaction with the kind of life one is living, until ultimately he feels compelled to face the issue fairly and squarely. In so doing he begins the quest not only for a better life, but for perfection itself. And what an all-absorbing, fascinating, spiritualizing quest it can be, fraught as it is with good for all mankind as well as for the one who embarks upon it!
During his first hour's study of Science and Health the writer came face to face with that challenging question which will be found on page 496, "Ask yourself: Am I living the life that approaches the supreme good?" He felt compelled to admit that his life did not even begin to approach that high goal; but immediately there came to his thought a way in which a start might be made: he could abandon the use of tobacco and alcohol. And within the next day or two he did. Thus, released from the bonds that had held him enchained for many years, the writer found a new, joyous sense of freedom. A completely fresh interest entered his life as he embarked upon that quest which must be undertaken, sooner or later, by every one of us in the passage from material sense to the purity and perfection of Soul.
There being no degrees of perfection, one idea of God cannot be more perfect than another. Man's perfection is not susceptible of qualification. The slightest flaw would, if it could enter perfection, make perfection imperfect. But perfection must always be perfection, for it is an attribute of God and proceeds only from the infinite Giver of all good. Since God made all His creation perfect, man in God's image and likeness is now, always has been, and always will be perfect.
The paramount demand of this hour is for each individual to claim his rightful heritage of perfection and, in the words of Paul, "put off the old man with his deeds; and . . . put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him"' (Col. 3:9, 10). The spiritual fact is that "now are we the sons of God," as the Apostle John declared (I John 3:2). And we demonstrate man's sonship with God, moment by moment and hour by hour all through the workaday week, in the measure that we express His perfection. Although our human activities may be housekeeping or housebuilding, driving an automobile or using a typewriter, preparing a meal or digging in a garden, drawing up a balance sheet or sailing a boat, each one of us may improve his standard of achievement, increasingly express and reflect perfection.
The constant striving for perfection sharpens one's perception and appreciation of what is in accord with Principle. Thus, when one falls short of the standard which has been set and criticism or rebuke results, he does not feel resentful. Rather, he welcomes criticism of a constructive nature and resolves to make more sincere efforts to reach the required standard on the next occasion. Aiming at perfection has a deep spiritualizing effect upon one's daily thoughts. Perfection being an attribute of God, it cannot be separated from Him. When this truth is understood, the moment one raises his thought to perfection he thinks of God as its source. How healing it can be, when one is confronted by discord or physical distress, to have his thoughts filled with the complete and eternal perfection of God.
As we take the indispensable human footsteps that lead to perfection we begin to experience more harmony in the home. Each member of the family is seen not as a human personality clashing with other human personalities, but as the perfect child of God, his individuality derived from the infinite source of all good. Tasks at the office, factory, studio, bank, farm, or school are accomplished with greater ease, in less time, and more satisfactorily as one individual striving to demonstrate perfection assists those who, lacking an example, have been hesitant to adopt a higher standard for themselves.
All the arrangements of one's experience proceed more smoothly as one holds steadfastly to the spiritual fact that God governs all in His eternally perfect creation. Life becomes fuller, richer, more free and joyous, as the realization of God's perfection, forever reflected by man, governs the use of one's hours.
He who is striving to demonstrate the ever presence of perfection is learning to put off materiality with its discord and erroneous beliefs. These cannot survive in the pure presence of perfection any more than darkness can exist in the presence of light. Therefore taking the "human footsteps leading to perfection" has a healing and regenerating effect, helping those who do so to understand and demonstrate that in their true nature all are, as John wrote in Revelation (14:5), "without fault before the throne of God."
