Why are we so drawn to excellence? At first glance this might seem like an odd question. Why would we not be drawn to excellence? It’s almost like asking why a man would be attracted to a woman. It’s just the way it is. Or is it? I believe that the answer is not as simple as we might think. It goes much deeper and is rooted in the very character of God.
God is the most excellent, glorious being who exists. In Matthew 5:48 Jesus tells us, “Your heavenly Father is perfect.” Stop and ponder that word “perfect” for a moment. God is perfection. His love is the sweetest and most tender love that has ever been known. It is perfect love. His power is both awe-inspiring and terrifying. It is perfect power. His wisdom, which infinitely exceeds all the wisdom collected by men through the ages, is perfect wisdom. He is perfect in every facet of his character, and all that he does flows out of his excellence.
All of creation has been kissed by the glory of God and gives us a small glimpse into his character. Even though creation has been marred and distorted by sin, we can still see the glory of God piercing through. When we hear a bird lifting its voice in beautiful song or see a breathtaking sunrise, we are glimpsing the character of God. He created the singing bird and the golden hues of a sunrise. If we get such pleasure from these things, what must the God who created them be like? He must be the most excellent of all! The glories of creation are meant to direct our attention to the glorious Creator.
Stephen Altrogge – Game Day for the Glory of God: A guide for athletes, fans, and wannabes. Page 34.
