IT is the general opinion of mankind that perfection is an ideal state of being to be sought after or hoped for only in some far-off, indeterminate time or place. But Christ Jesus did not speak of perfection as a mere future possibility. He evidently perceived that perfection can be demonstrated at the present stage of human existence, for he stated simply to his listeners (Matt. 5: 48), "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
Christian Science teaches the perfection of God and of His creation, including man and the universe. The Bible explains that man is the image and likeness of God. Therefore the real man exists at the standpoint of continuous perfection. This perfection of God and of all that He creates is the same now and forever, because God is unchanging divine Principle, Love.
Since God is everywhere, the divine perfection is ever present. It is not necessary to go anywhere to demonstrate the presence of perfection. Nor can anyone be in a situation, location, or circumstance where divine perfection is not already present, because God is never absent. His work is complete and perfect now; therefore nothing needs to be added to it in order to perfect it, nor has there ever been a time when it lacked perfection.
