In our contemporary worship music, we often focus on Jesus being loving (which He is!) and that there is joy in being filled with the Holy Spirit (Thank God!) that is a part of our worship, but in all the clamor, we rarely pause to recognize the Holiness of the God we serve. The song Holy Holy Holy, written by missionary Bishop Reginald Heber, was not widely known during his lifetime, but his wife collected this and various other hymns which he had composed and found a publisher for them the year after his death. The testimony of this young and dedicated follower of Jesus, whose life goals had nothing to do with fame or popularity are a challenge for us today. The first three words and often repeated throughout the hymn are “Holy – Holy – Holy.” These words are found in the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments, and they remind us that we serve a perfectly Holy God who exists in Three Persons. As I was listening to the words again today, I realized that God’s triune nature is also reflected in the final words of verse three: “Perfect in power, in love and purity.” As I thought on that line I could see how they reflect the awesome wonder of God’s holiness. First our Father, “Perfect in power,” the creator of the Heavens and the Earth who holds all things together in the universe simply by the power of His word. Then a second Holy for the Son, who came to us in the manger of Bethlehem and left us after suffering for our sins on the Cross of Calvary, He is certainly Perfect in love. Last of all, the Holy Spirit, who fill convicts of sin, disciplines, guides, comforts and helps, all in His perfect purity. Together as we sing through the stanzas of this hymn, we begin to get just a glimpse of what the angels see as they continually worship before the throne day and night for ever and ever and ever!
Holiness
Edging the Garden Bed
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace.
Galatians 1:15 NLT
The average person who walks through a formal garden, might pause to admire the beauty of the peonies, or bend low enough to inhale the scent of the roses, but almost no one says, “Wow look at the beautiful edge on that bed!” But as a professional gardener I can tell you that the edge of any garden is its lifeline, and I can’t even begin to add up the number of miles my garden-spade has cut to prevent the roots of the surrounding lawn from invading the soil around the flowers. Today’s verse talks about cutting a different kind of an edge: one God had made in Paul’s life. Now to modern Western culture, the idea people being separated from one other is totally foreign and smacks of prejudice. But this kind of separation is not made by man but by the Master Gardener of the universe. From birth God cut an edge between what Paul wanted to do, and what God had called Him to do, and He wants to do the same for you and me. But you might protest, “I thought Jesus came to bring us peace on earth, not separation! Doesn’t He love everyone?” Oh yes, Jesus loves everyone, but He is loving, pure and holy and He will not compromise those things to make people happy. Even within families, sometimes God must make a separation, to prevent roots of bitterness, hatred, or unbelief from creeping in. It might seem appealing to us to grow outside His garden edge, but it breaks His heart and there will be a price to pay when those roots get tangled in our hearts. Some of that envy, a little pinch of sarcasm, a hint of jealousy and on and on, wraps their tentacles around our motives and actions. But even if that has happened, there is good news. When we return to God and His word, His garden-spade, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, will begin to separate us again to Him, and by His grace gives us a chance to bloom again!
Walking with Jesus Alone
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. 2 Cor 6:16-17
Being a Christian may sometimes feel like a complicated balancing act. On one hand we don’t want to be like the Pharisees whose holier than thou attitude smelled pretty stinky to God. But then we come face to face with verses in the New Testament that challenge us to boldly be different from others.
When I was small I can remember summer nights playing with my cousins in our grandmother’s back yard. Games of tag turned to Hide and seek as the afternoon shadows lengthened. Finally as darkness began to fall we would wear our selves out running with empty jars to try to catch fireflies. Finally our grandmother who we called Gammy would go out on the back porch and ring the big ships bell that grandfather had brought back from the navy ship which he captained. Hearing that bell meant to all of us that we needed to stop everything we were doing and come in.
In that same way God is ringing heaven’s bell as the shadows of time are lengthening. It is time to stop chasing after the fireflies come in to be close to Him. Quite a few years ago being separated meant that we shouldn’t join secular civic organizations, labor unions or ecumenical groups. Not to disparage those choices but on closer examination of scripture we see that He is not just calling us out. He is also calling us in.
Are you at a crossroads in your life today? Is there some decision, commitment or relationship that challenges your relationship to Jesus Christ? Making choices in life is not easy. Often good choices are the most difficult. God doesn’t promise us a comfortable and easy path. He does promise that will never walk alone. Will you walk with Him today? Does His approval mean more than the approval of neighbors, friends and even family? It won’t matter how many people like our decision. The only like that really matters comes from Jesus Christ and He gives us the awesome and fearful freedom to choose who we will walk with today!
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