In Genesis chapter one, we are told that God in His creation process blessed the seventh day and made it Holy. (Gen. 2:3) The author, Andrew Murray and highly regarded missionary in South Africa in the 19th century in his book entitled “The Path to Holiness”, page 17 wrote, “Holy is the word that reveals the purpose with which God from eternity thought of humankind and foretells our highest glory in the coming eternity—to be partakers of God’s holiness!”. Andrew Murray in that wonderful devotional book goes on to explain that God made provision for this seemingly impossible condition for any man or woman on their own to become one with God, that is becoming holy as He is holy, by giving His Son to die on the cross. He did this to remedy our inability on our own to become One with Him but promised that if we believe in Him and accept what He did for each of us who so believe, we would become holy.
So, for us as born again believers in what Christ did for us in his suffering, death and resurrection, for which we are promised we will live with Him forever after our deaths in heaven but for now still have in our life experiences those conditions and from time to time even have practices and attributes that are far from perfect by human standards, how could many of them be considered “holy” as God is holy? How we face each circumstance in each life where that standard is not met I suggest we could, as Andrew Murray did, call it a path we travel if we desire to meet God’s standards for our behaviors as or in holiness.
In my opinion, none of us in our own wisdom and strength of will or otherwise can achieve this condition perfectly, consistently and certainly not irrevocably on our own without the assistance of God’s presence in our lives through His Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul wrote that God has called us to be holy as He is holy (Rom. 1:7 and I Cor. 1:2) and to live a holy life (I Thess. 4:7). He also wrote that the One who calls us will do it. (I Thess. 5:23-24).
So if God is holy and He has called us to be in that condition during our lives, how have we in our own consistent experiences been able to maintain that condition and if not, why not and if not what can we do to bring those circumstances where we fail into His plan so that He can be glorified by our choices, so that His plan is being fulfilled in us? (2 Cor. 13:11)
In an overview sense then, Father Richard Rohr in his book, Immortal Diamond (page 79) suggests that Jesus in His life was a model or a pattern for us to follow on this path toward holiness. He, Jesus, knew that He had to be willing to surrender all that was given him by God, including his human life for that plan or model to succeed so that others believing on Him, such as we ourselves, could live as well. We have to die, in a metaphorical sense, to any aspect of our lives that keep us from being holy as He was clearly holy. However, none of us is perfect on this path toward holiness, and the blessing of His forgiveness when we fail and with a confession seek and receive His forgiveness is an ongoing assurance for His love being manifest in our lives on this path toward holiness.
So, what are examples of life choices and our decisions that have the tendency to distract or even divert us from staying committed to His will on this path toward holiness? And, what is the remedy for their correction once recognized and identified so that we can remain true to Him on this path? The following examples are not claimed to be the exclusive personal problem areas of our lives but are listed as tough but realistic examples of the kind of life character problems that do arise. In this writer’s opinion these are just a few that are extremely difficult ones for which we are called upon to deal and for which solutions for their remedies are suggested.
1. There is an emotion that often arises in you in the midst of controversy with others, careless personal mistakes that create confusion, difficult physical tasks and reactions to the conduct of others in a crowded environment that is unpleasant and often leads to an angry response to the stimulant, whoever caused it. In the midst of such situations, our bodies will regularly generate a hormone called adrenaline (epinephrine) through your bloodstream that is called a “rush” because it rises suddenly in your system automatically, it seems, in that you don’t seem to have control of its generation. If you are unaware of its effects and nature it can disguise a feeling, for example, of your own mistake and turn it into the blame of others that you care about or circumstances you did not anticipate or thought you controlled but didn’t. The result will often lead to irreconcilable conflicts even with those you care about. I have learned from the analysis of my own experiences in such situations that God has given us the ability in this reaction to the hormone to recognize it for what it really is, use it when justified (like in an extremely difficult physical task) or simply set it aside when you recognize it is unnecessary or inappropriate to the circumstance and just let that feeling go, when that is what you feel like when you are angry. God has given us the ability to do that and controlling this anger rush phenomenon is an aide or solution on the restoration of your progress on the path to holiness.
2. In crowded or congested shopping or even driving conditions where the true reasons for other people’s conduct that are offensive to you, there can arise a tendency to blame the other persons’ conduct as worse than it truly was and the excuse or even explanation for your own reaction is in reality worse than you thought it was. I have labeled this phenomenon as “the excuse paradox” because it seems to be one way when in reality it was something else. Such situations such as a crowded freeway or an overcrowded shopping area can often lead to your own frustration, and even overreaction which if considered properly at that moment, the pressure and discomfort so generated can be avoided. God has given us the opportunity in such situations and the wisdom if you exercise it, to quickly evaluate the usually visible circumstances that on first impression tend to offend us and instead and make your response more accurately and with less or even no offense on your part in this reaction. The exercise of this wisdom in purely personal encounters can relax the stress in you that might otherwise cause an angry reaction that on hindsight is truly unpleasant. Dr. David Viscott a treating psychiatrist wrote that every patient’s problem he ever treated could be defined as the failure to take responsibility for their present feelings. I would extend that to include that taking responsibility for your present thoughts would be equally rewarding in the excuse paradox arena. Removing this discomfort from your life experiences will help restore you on God’s directed path toward holiness. This could or would be a part of the narrow way that few follow but should, with His help find their way as He wants. (Matt. 7:14)
3. There may be some of you who have a tendency or have developed what could be called an impersonal nature, meaning for whatever reasons, you are unable or are uncomfortable in sharing what you feel about things that come up in personal relations and even to show concern or caring for the circumstances of others you know or encounter. Jesus, when called as a test by an expert in the Mosaic Law, was asked what was the greatest commandment of the law, said, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all of your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself. The whole law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22: 34-40). C.S. Lewis wrote that Jesus meant by this second commandment that you should love your neighbor as you want God to love you, with tolerance, respect and forgiveness. If your tendency is to keep your feelings to yourself when some expression in regarding your neighbor or even a stranger possibly could help them, even when you don’t know how they will react, you have strayed from this path to what Jesus would have you do and hiding your opportunity to grow into more of a state of holiness. Oswald Chambers in The Golden Book, advised us to love our neighbor or even a stranger, which means to do or say things that will benefit them, not because there is something you expect to gain or even to gain credit or approval of God but to do things that will help them because God loves them and you want to do what He would have you do. This is a step on the path toward holiness. On occasion, one of these impersonal persons I have described may be reluctant to say or do something in this kind of love demonstration towards the other because you don’t feel like doing it. C.S. Lewis advised that if there is something you should do in love for that other person but you don’t feel like doing it, go ahead and do it anyway and the reward of a good feeling from having done it will develop in you over time of its practices that way. This is another step you can take on the path toward holiness.
4. Sometimes the steps you want to take on this path toward holiness may be leading you to seek praise or recognition by others rather than being taken solely for the joy of doing it because it is what you believe God has called you into doing. In my own life, I have had the privilege of writing and presenting personal stories for those persons making contributions for public service projects at the annual fund raising auction held for that purpose by my Rotary Club. The motto of Rotary is service above self and our Four Way Test of the things we think say or do are: (1) Is it the truth; (2) Is it fair to all concerned; (3) Will it build good will and better friendships; and (4) Will it be beneficial to all concerned. In this process, I interview the person at length and write in effect a short biography of their lives and publish it for them in a small booklet for sharing with family and friends. I find this process very rewarding to engage in the interview and develop a theme for their story, but I had to learn in the process that praise or recognition for the result which often happens is not the main reason for the endeavor. God loves each of us and wants us to be rewarded by the joy of doing His will and bringing pleasure or joy to others, not for our personal recognition for doing it. I just recently learned this in my experience on the latest project and appreciate very much His showing me this small adjustment on the path to holiness.
CONCLUSION
I don’t want to suggest in this article that I have addressed all the potential aspects of how small deviations from this path toward holiness could occur and what other possible solutions might be available with God’s direction for you. I merely urge you to examine your life in all respects and keep these and other problems that may come to you in mind. Also, feel free to share those of your own and comments to this article so we can learn from each other as God shall direct. Changes of little tough things (being impersonal, reward vs joy of doing, dealing with anger, quickly evaluating excuses and acts of love for others especially when you don’t feel like it) can help you become the new you on the path toward holiness. A character I developed in one of my short stories gave this advice to a youngster being blamed and publicly criticized by their peers for mistakes made was: “You do what you are, not what you sometimes do.” With the lessons in this article applied for you to become that reformed person on the path toward holiness, you will thereafter do what you are— not what you might sometimes do or in the past would have done. I conclude further with a declaration that I feel should be considered for your adoption in seeking peace for your progress on the path toward holiness:
Trust is the channel through which the peace of God flows. Thankfulness is the rudder that should steer your life’s boat through the most difficult parts and challenges you will face in that channel on your path toward holiness. Thankfulness and praise of God are essentially identical as you thank and praise God throughout your life. In this process on this path toward holiness you can become one with Him. For this to happen you have to trust in Him and act in full reliance on where He leads you in this process. (Inspired by Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young devotional for June 4)
You can become one with Him by a renewing of your mind and heart. (Rom. 12:1-2 and II Cor. 3:17-18)
John Woodbery Author. A retired lawyer, John writes novels, short stories, poetry, commentaries on legal subjects, even a song (!). Find his suspense novels on Amazon: Hidden, Earl’s Retreat, Two Tombs Covers.
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