Batman and Robin are the caped crusaders of the fictious Gotham City. (I have wondered what state would this even be in!) Yet, the identity of the eccentric millionaire Bruce Wayne and his young ward, Dick Grayson have fought off such criminals as "The Joker", "The Riddler", "The Penguin, " just to name a few. They have always managed to foil these criminals in their fight against good and evil. During these many fights no one ever got killed (Now we know this is fictious, nobody gets killed!) Many times young "Robin" would say, "Holy Toledo", "Holy Mr Freeze Gun" or something to that nature. Well, I believe that young Robin needs a course in holiness--the real holiness.
So when we hear the word holiness, immediately what comes to your mind? The Greek word for holiness in the NT is "hageedzo" which means to place in a relation to God . In the OT the root word is "Kadah" which means "to cut or separate". As a young person growing up in the eastern part of the state, I can easily remember holiness to mean such things as "Staying at church from can’t to can’t--can’t see when to start and can’t see when to stop; I can remember the long white dresses, the black suits with bow ties. One distinct thing that stuck in my mind aabout those women and men going into the holiness church was that they seemed so unhappy--sort of like they dreaded going through those doors. I believe that my childhood reminsciences of holiness is just that--my childhood memories. For since I have matured, I have learned, "because it is written, be ye holy for I am holy."
Holiness is something that is misunderstood. To the average person, holiness may mean to assume a very pious attitude, to become almost abnormal in everyday life. It is thought to be a superficial thing. In the text, it says, "gird up the loins of your mind". This is a figure of speech based on the gathering and fastening up of the long Eastern garments so that they would not interfere with the wearer’s vigorous movements. It was an expression that was understood in Peter’s day, and bringing it to 20th century, "get with it, or maybe get turned on." We are not to be so well acquainted with this life, that the Word of God cannot find a place in our lives. The Word of God can turn you on, can help you get with it. Being sober means to adopt a serious attitude in the study of the Word of God. We get joy from the Word of God for if joy depended upon people, we would have no joy!The Word of God gives us energy, gives us vitality, it rejuvenates us. My friends, the Lord wants you to be a fully integrated personality. He wants us to enjoy life. Holiness is to the spiritual life what health is to the physical life.
Then what does it mean to be holy as God is holy? I believe our God is a complete, marvelous, wonderful personality. You and I are mere human beings, yet we can grow and actually reach maturation. A beautiful little baby in a crib may win awards, but he is still a little baby in a crib 17 years later, something is wrong. He should be a healthy, young fellow perhaps turning out for football practice. As Christians, we should be growing spiritually like that. What can produce this special kind of growth? Everyday, with the Word of God.
One story of Moses is quite unique. As he was tending his father-in-law’s sheep, he came across an interesting phenomenon. A bush was burning but was not being consumed. "When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am". Then he said, "Come no closer! Remove the sandal from you rfeet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." (Exodus 3:4-5) Yes, my friends, we too are standing on holy ground in the presence of God. We too are standing with fear and trembling before an awesome God! A God who woke us up early this morning, clothed and in our right minds, a God who loves us in spite of our shortcomings, A God who will make a way out of noway----
God’s Word encourages us to be exceedingly glad, to be as wise as serpents, be as harmless as doves, be of good cheer, be dead to self and sin, be concerned for the lost, be ye transformed, be rejoicing in hope. God’s Word tells us to be patient in tribulation, be given to hospitality, be considerate, be ye kind one to another, be sincere, be of one mind with Christ, be without rebuke, be anxious for nothing......
Be thankful, be truthful, be sweet in speech, be strong in grace, be ready to work, be swift to hear, be slow to speak, be slow to anger.....but there are some "be nots" in this life of holiness, be not as hypocrites, be not faithless, be not divisive among you, be not ashamed to live for Christ, be not judging and grudging, be not conformed to this word, be not partakers of the devils’ table, be not unequally yoked with unbelievers--
Yes, we are standing on holy ground--every step we take, we are on holy ground, why because it brings us into the presence of God. Amen.
