If you are showing a lamb, you want a straight topline, a trim shoulder, and strong pasterns.
A proper rabbit must be of the right color, in good health, clean, and have good ear and tail carriage.
A winning chicken will be the right color, have a comb in good condition, and be clean and in good health.
A best of show beef animal will have straight legs, a strong straight topline, a long body, and correct muscling.
Your goal at the livestock show is to select, grow, and present the best animal possible. A blue ribbon and a perfect score are what you aim for. If you choose a poor animal to start with, if your animal gets sick, or if you neglect to take care of it, you will never get the blue ribbon.
Beyond just showing a nice animal that is in good shape and condition, every breed association has specific expectations as well. This is known as the Standard of Perfection. Beyond just wanting to win the local show, every true showman raises their animal to conform to this ideal standard. The best of the best will be the animal that most closely resembles the Standard of Perfection for its breed.
Did you know that there is a Standard of Perfection for people too? All people are created in the image of God and Jesus is our Standard of Perfection. Unlike livestock, people are not judged by God based on a list of physical characteristics like hair color, skin color, height, or weight. We are judged by how well our inner being, our heart or soul, matches up to Jesus, God’s Son.
Our goal in life is like our goal in the show ring, to match the Standard of Perfection. The book of Romans in the Bible says that we are called to “be conformed to the image of
His Son” (Rom 8:29), Jesus.
Unfortunately, we have all strayed away from Jesus’ perfect standard. Every time we break one of God’s commandments (like when we lie, dishonor our parents, steal, etc.) we sin. Sin is like your show animal breaking a leg, going off feed, or getting injured. The inferior animal can’t possibly win in the show ring and we can’t possibly achieve our goal of perfection when we sin.
But fortunately for us, God has made a way for us to be judged perfect, even with our faults!
Since we all failed God we are all sinners (Rom 3:23) and we can’t possibly be judged well. Left in our sin, we are unfit and condemned to die. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death.” The inferior animal ends up in the slaughter-house. Sinners end up in Hell. But we are not animals. We are God’s image. God loves us and gives us a way to be judged perfect…
God sent His Son to be our Standard of Perfection AND to be our Savior! When we believe that Jesus Christ is God and that Jesus died on the cross for OUR sins, God will no longer judge us according to our faults, but according to our faith in Jesus. It is as though God takes us out of the show ring and puts Jesus in our place. When we believe in Jesus, God forgives our sins and judges us perfect, every time. No longer are we fit for Hell; but with faith in Jesus, we are bound for Heaven. Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross for you? Believe on the Lord Jesus today and He will save you and give you eternal life, something far better than a blue ribbon!