The Standards of Life

As persons of the 21st Century, we adhere to many standards. Our standards are based, primarily, on what is acceptable, normal, and enduring. We conform to these standards, ensuring that we meet these standards for normal participation in society, without knowing why those standards exist and how those standards came to be in existence. We simply accept them, embrace them, and strive to better meet those standards.

In a Christian community, the first standard for societal living is dogmatically accepted as the Biblical text and its applications for daily living as a Christian (2 Timothy 3:16). At the same time though, we desire to adhere to standards that the world has set for us, that society deems as normal, acceptable, and that which promotes longevity. What we eat, wear, say, listen to, look like, think of ourselves, think of others, study, create, dream, and the like are according to some standard that we embrace as "right." Why? We want to fit in. We want to be loved. We want to have hope. We want to be successful.

If we choose to say that we do not adhere to standards and we are simply independent, free-living beings, then we are blatantly lying to ourselves. Everyday we compare our lifestyle to others, to the world, even to Christ. Every time, we fall short. We cannot meet those standards; no matter how much we try or blind ourselves to the truth. We will never live up to standards (Romans 3:23).

I have standards for myself, most prominently in academia. No matter how much work I accomplish or what grade I get, I'm not satisfied until more work is done, a better grade is achieved, and the cycle continues. I have expectations for others that they would be observant, responsible with time, and hard-working. These standards fail for me even with my dearest friends. Others have standards for me that I may more wholly serve them, love them, and invest in them. I know that I fail them daily. God calls me to live a life of holiness, and yet my flesh fails me.

And so, where is there hope? We cannot live up to what is expected of us from others, from the world, from ourself, or from God. We will fail. We have failed. We are failing. That is the hope. We cannot measure up to standards, not even God's, so instead, we fall humbly before our Creator and admit that we are inherently not good enough. We bow down and rid our life of ourself. We say, "I have nothing to offer. I cannot even live up to my own standards, so I give myself to you, as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2)"

Is that a solution for the failure of meeting standards? In this life, no. Eternally, yes (1 John 4:9-10).
During our earthly life, the failure of meeting standards will continue, but as a living sacrifice for the living God, we live each day not with the attitude that we have failed to meet the standards of ourself, others, or even the complete holiness of God; instead, we live with the joy that we are not living for our own gain, but for the gain of the ultimate sacrifice that we may glorify and honor the Lord until we await deliverance to meet the ultimate standard in eternity (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We won't meet standards to perfection in this life, but in our imperfections, we know that we are loved, we are valued, we are cared for, and we have hope for deliverance in the One who has loved us from the beginning (Zephaniah 3:17).

As brothers and sisters of the living Lord, we must encourage one another, carry one another's burdens and spur one another on as we struggle with failing to meet the standards that we encounter everyday (Galatians 6:2). In our failure, we are at our knees crying out, "Only you Lord are worthy and only you will remain as my standard for all ages."

Our hope and joy does not come from meeting standards and expectations, for we shall fail. Instead, our hope and joy lies in our submission to Christ (Jeremiah 17:7, Psalm 71:5). In our submission, we are utilized (2 Corinthians 6:16) for His sake in order that we may more fully serve Him (2 Corinthians 12:9).