1 Corinthians 13:9–12 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Paul contrasts God’s love to earthly knowledge, which is partial and imperfect. It will vanish. The phrase “when perfection comes” carries with it the idea of an aim, the desired outcome, the fulfillment of God’s purposes. And he uses two different illustrations to describe this completion.

First he speaks of growing from childhood to maturity. Our ideas of heaven that we have at this point cannot possibly do justice to the glory and greatness of God’s presence. From the perspective of eternity, any knowledge that we have now, however astounding or awe-inspiring, will look like the wisdom of a preschooler. In the maturity of heaven, it will vanish away. We will be complete.

Paul also compares what we have now and what we will have then to the difference between a reflection and reality. In Paul’s day, they did not have mirrors like we have today. The best they had was a piece of burnished and polished brass or copper. Even though these were finely made, the best Corinthian mirror gave an imperfect reflection. There was always some distortion. While we are on this side of heaven, our view of eternity is distorted, it is not clear. We cannot see clearly what we do not yet have. However, in God’s time we will see “face to face.”  God’s love will bring us to that completion.

Philippians 1:6 … he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.