Preparing for the Wedding
" Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."
-Philippians 1:27
It's been quite a week. As many of you know, we said goodbye to a friend of over 45 years this week. Right after his funeral, we left for a small vacation to see friends in western Kansas. Riding in a car for 6+ hours gives you a lot of time to think. Of course, losing a friend makes one think a lot about eternity. And, as promised, I have been thinking a great deal about holiness. I wonder how closely the two are related. I suspect they are very close.
Even 45 years ago life was very different . Families spent a lot more time together. Church wasn't an option, or even a "sometimes " thing. You went every week , as did all of your friends. And, being normal kids, we were all curious about the forbidden stuff... things like sex, nudity, alternative lifestyles, all that. We couldn't just watch primetime television to see and/or learn about these things. We had to be sneakier than that. Things were done under the table, in secret. We shared any new information we had with others, and found out most of our information that way. It was not socially acceptable to openly talk about those subjects, so no one did. Sin was a secret, or so we thought .
Not so now. We can see just about anything under the sun on television. Network television even. Music is even worse. Most of the songs in popular culture are beyond me, because I listen to praise music. But I read enough to know the lyrics are unbelievably profane and violent. Throw in books, newspapers, magazines, and any other type of entertainment or media, and we are constantly inundated with images and sounds we shouldn't be.
I may be different from all of you, but I regularly 'pay for' times I participate in unseemly
activities . Every once in a while, an image will shoot through my mind or a song or phrase will replay from the past. I have learned that once these things are seen and heard, they are etched forever somewhere in my mind. No matter how I try to forget them they come back and sully my thoughts. It can happen at the most ridiculous time too, during Bible study, in church, at a family event. Could
be why Scripture says:
"Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.'"
- John 8:34
I become a slave to that sin, after all these years, when it replays in my mind and causes me to think those thoughts again and again.
So, what about the concept of holiness? And how does it fit in our society today? I am certain most of us haves become desensitized to many sins, because of our constant exposure to them. So many things we consider "normal" would have been met with horror a few years back. Nancy DeMoss, in her book "Holiness" says:
"We don't mind talking about holiness as an abstract concept. But if that concept gets too personal or starts to interfere with our lifestyle, we can quickly become uncomfortable."
Those who read this blog regularly know I started this review or holiness because of a personal
experience with a television show. I have to admit I had watched that show for some time. Although I realized it was a bit risqué, over time it got worse and worse. Interestingly, the progression was subtle enough that I didn't notice as I should have. Finally, God had to make it clear to me Himself that watching this show was sin, and He was not about to let me play the game both ways . I am not naive enough to say I'm not doing other activities that lack holiness. But I know I need to be looking, trying to eliminate those activities that sully my relationship with God.
One thing I am using to help me with this distinction is an activity I have done before but neglected lately. It's my "do it with Jesus" reference. Could I , or would I, do this activity with Christ sitting right beside me? I try to imagine Him physically sitting there with me. The silly thing is, He is there witnessing it all anyway.
The bottom line is this: we as Christians are REQUIRED to be holy. I'm not sure we ever really
arrive , but it is a goal we need to strive toward. With the help of Nancy Leigh DeMoss' book, as well as other authors and if course the Bible, we will continue to explore this topic. As the bride of Christ, don't we want to be prepared:
"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his
Bride has made herself ready ."
-Revelation 19:7
Becoming 'ready' more than likely does not entail watching questionable programs on TV. I'm going to monitor that this week and make a conscious effort to eliminate those that do not help me 'make myself ready'. What can you monitor in your life? We've got a wedding to get ready for!
-Philippians 1:27
It's been quite a week. As many of you know, we said goodbye to a friend of over 45 years this week. Right after his funeral, we left for a small vacation to see friends in western Kansas. Riding in a car for 6+ hours gives you a lot of time to think. Of course, losing a friend makes one think a lot about eternity. And, as promised, I have been thinking a great deal about holiness. I wonder how closely the two are related. I suspect they are very close.
Even 45 years ago life was very different . Families spent a lot more time together. Church wasn't an option, or even a "sometimes " thing. You went every week , as did all of your friends. And, being normal kids, we were all curious about the forbidden stuff... things like sex, nudity, alternative lifestyles, all that. We couldn't just watch primetime television to see and/or learn about these things. We had to be sneakier than that. Things were done under the table, in secret. We shared any new information we had with others, and found out most of our information that way. It was not socially acceptable to openly talk about those subjects, so no one did. Sin was a secret, or so we thought .
Not so now. We can see just about anything under the sun on television. Network television even. Music is even worse. Most of the songs in popular culture are beyond me, because I listen to praise music. But I read enough to know the lyrics are unbelievably profane and violent. Throw in books, newspapers, magazines, and any other type of entertainment or media, and we are constantly inundated with images and sounds we shouldn't be.
I may be different from all of you, but I regularly 'pay for' times I participate in unseemly
activities . Every once in a while, an image will shoot through my mind or a song or phrase will replay from the past. I have learned that once these things are seen and heard, they are etched forever somewhere in my mind. No matter how I try to forget them they come back and sully my thoughts. It can happen at the most ridiculous time too, during Bible study, in church, at a family event. Could
be why Scripture says:
"Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.'"
- John 8:34
I become a slave to that sin, after all these years, when it replays in my mind and causes me to think those thoughts again and again.
So, what about the concept of holiness? And how does it fit in our society today? I am certain most of us haves become desensitized to many sins, because of our constant exposure to them. So many things we consider "normal" would have been met with horror a few years back. Nancy DeMoss, in her book "Holiness" says:
"We don't mind talking about holiness as an abstract concept. But if that concept gets too personal or starts to interfere with our lifestyle, we can quickly become uncomfortable."
Those who read this blog regularly know I started this review or holiness because of a personal
experience with a television show. I have to admit I had watched that show for some time. Although I realized it was a bit risqué, over time it got worse and worse. Interestingly, the progression was subtle enough that I didn't notice as I should have. Finally, God had to make it clear to me Himself that watching this show was sin, and He was not about to let me play the game both ways . I am not naive enough to say I'm not doing other activities that lack holiness. But I know I need to be looking, trying to eliminate those activities that sully my relationship with God.
One thing I am using to help me with this distinction is an activity I have done before but neglected lately. It's my "do it with Jesus" reference. Could I , or would I, do this activity with Christ sitting right beside me? I try to imagine Him physically sitting there with me. The silly thing is, He is there witnessing it all anyway.
The bottom line is this: we as Christians are REQUIRED to be holy. I'm not sure we ever really
arrive , but it is a goal we need to strive toward. With the help of Nancy Leigh DeMoss' book, as well as other authors and if course the Bible, we will continue to explore this topic. As the bride of Christ, don't we want to be prepared:
"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his
Bride has made herself ready ."
-Revelation 19:7
Becoming 'ready' more than likely does not entail watching questionable programs on TV. I'm going to monitor that this week and make a conscious effort to eliminate those that do not help me 'make myself ready'. What can you monitor in your life? We've got a wedding to get ready for!
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