Perfection

Ever since the Garden of Eden, we have been made to feel that we are not enough. In Genesis 3, Satan tells Eve, “You will not certainly die, For God knows that when you eat from it (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Let’s take a closer look at this… “When you eat from it”, - If you buy this product, wear these clothes, drive this car, etc., “you will be like God,” - You are not like God, you are different, you are not enough. 

Ever since that moment, we have been chasing perfection.

We live in a society obsessed with perfection. The global beauty and personal care industry is projected to have $270billion in revenue in 2017, with $155b being spent on cosmetics alone. In 2013, $12b was spent on cosmetic procedures in the US alone, with $7b spent on surgical procedures, and $5b spent on non-surgical procedures, like Botox, microdermabrasion, laser hair removal, etc.. The beauty and personal care industry spends an average of $67.5b on advertising every year, so it's no wonder that we are constantly bombarded 24hrs a day with the message that we are not enough. We will never be fit enough, healthy enough, pretty enough, rich enough. Are we driving the right car? Living in the right neighborhood? Sending our kids to the right schools? Do we have the right job? The right hairstyle? The right clothes? Wearing the right makeup? It’s no wonder that we as a society have a hard time admitting when we have done something wrong. When all we hear from society is how we are not enough, or that we are doing something wrong, why would we want to readily admit that we have personally failed in some way? And so, we constantly are searching for perfection in an imperfect world.

In Hebrews 10, we are told 5 times that all the sacrifices and burnt offerings and prayers in the world will not make us holy(perfect).
**The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason {it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.} 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.4 {It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.}
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6 {with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.}
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”[a]
8 First he said, “{Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—}though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; {again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. }12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

It is nothing that we can do, because what needed to be done was accomplished through Christ, through His sacrifice. Because of His sacrifice, we ARE holy, we ARE enough!

**Romans 5:1-8
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

In the scope of eternity, it doesn’t matter who you are wearing, or what you are driving, what matters is what’s on the inside.

**Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3: 3-4

All my life, the world, and even some of those closest to me, have made me feel 'never enough.' Never thin enough. Never smart enough. Never pretty enough. Never enough for love. Never enough. Never. Enough.
ENOUGH!
I. Am. Enough.
I am loved. The King of Kings, the Creator of the universe, is jealous for me! He longs to spend time with me. He values me. This kind of love is overwhelming. Unearned love. Loved just because you exist. Loved because I am enough.
In Him, I am more than enough, I am:
-Perfect
-Worthy of love and affection
-Loved inspite of myself
-A daughter of the King
-Valued
-Destined for greatness

I. Am. Enough.
**For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
Hebrews 10:14
In Him, I am enough. In Him, I am perfect.