A CALL TO HOLINESS
Romans 12: 1-2
Malachi 3: 1-7

           We bring to a close today our 12-week series on the Minor Prophets of the Old Testament. Along the way, we have heard several messages from God to ancient Israel. My hope is that you have heard a message from God for you and where you are in your life, right now. I’m not going to recap every sermon of the past 11 weeks, but we’ve heard quite a lot recently: what it means to be the church God desires, fighting complacency in our life and our church, and what’s going on when it seems like our prayers aren’t being answered, just to name a few.

           It is fitting, though, that Malachi would be the final prophet from whom we hear; indeed fitting that Malachi would be the final book of the Old Testament. Malachi is the last prophet on the scene in Israel until John the Baptist shows up nearly 400 years later, announcing the impending coming of the Messiah. It is fitting because Malachi seems to offer a summary of the majority of the prophetic writings, as well as the entire First Testament. We have heard today in v. 7 of chapter 3 what I consider to be the defining verse of the prophets when God says to Israel, “Return to me, and I will return to you”. It is an invitation by God to turn things around, it is an invitation to examine where we are in life, and it is an invitation to turn back— no matter how far down another path we have gone. In short, it is a call and invitation by God to Israel and to all who read and hears these words, to holiness of life.

           Holiness—it is one of those words we speak of in the church but perhaps don’t define it very often (similar to the “Kingdom of God” we spoke about last week). I want to spend a few minutes defining this word, so we have some idea of what exactly God is calling and inviting us to do and be. First, it is helpful to define what holiness is not. Holiness is NOT keeping our nose stuck in a Bible. Holiness is NOT harping on those who do not behave as “we” think they should. Holiness is NOT having to be perfect in all things at all times, out of fear of God’s wrath. Holiness is NOT putting our personal piety on display for all to see, that we might be seen as holy. Instead of all these, holiness is simply reflecting God in all we do. THAT’S IT!! Holiness is all about being a reflection of God so that when others see us, they see our body but God’s Spirit. When we make a commitment to holiness as a way of life, we are making the commitment to allow others to see God in us and because of us.

           With this definition in place, the question now becomes, “How do we get there?” How do get a place where our life is holy in the sight of God? I invite you to go back to July, the first few weeks I was here (I know, it’s been awhile!). We explored then the three General Rules John Wesley had established for the early Methodists. Do you remember what they are? Do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God. We said at that time that these Rules were established as a way to shape the life of these Methodists and provide a goal toward which they could strive each day. They became a benchmark, something these people could look to at the end of the day and ask, “Was my life holy today? Did I avoid harm? Did I do good? Did I love God to the fullest?” In the same way, these Rules can be a guide for us, as we seek to live out our commitment to holiness each and every day.

           It must be said, though, that we are not able to get a place of holiness by ourselves. You see, there is absolutely nothing we can do to make ourselves holy. It doesn’t matter how much good we do, how hard we avoid evil, or how pious we are in our devotion to God. None of these, by themselves, will get us any closer to holiness than where we are now. The first step on the path toward holiness is simply faith in Jesus Christ. Malachi speaks of a messenger from God that will purify and refine Israel—that messenger is Jesus Christ! It is through Christ that we are made holy in the eyes of God! We cannot begin to go down this path without first placing our faith in Christ. Any holiness that is counted on our behalf is the work of God’s Spirit that is allowing us to reflect God in all that we do!

           My hope right now is that God is stirring your spirit; stirring your spirit in a way that is calling and inviting you to a life of holiness and reflecting God. My hope is that the desire of your heart right now is to be a shining reflection of God for this world. As all that is going through your head and God is stirring your spirit, I have to take a moment and say that being holy, reflecting God, comes at a high cost. It requires us to be willing to sacrifice all that we are, have, desire, etc. so that God might be glorified and reflected in us. It is a decision that we must make each and every day—regardless of how long we have been a Christian or in the church. Each day, when we wake up, we must make the decision if we are willing to give up all our hopes and dreams for ourselves, our children, our grandchildren, our church, our community, and our world, so that, above all things, God would be glorified and reflecting in us! It is precisely that cost that makes the holy life intimidating or undesirable. We want to be holy and glorify and reflect God, but it just costs too much.

           It is a decision we must make each day—if we are willing to pay the price that day to commit to holiness and glorify God. I must tell you, friends, that the stakes are enormous in this decision. If we claim to be Christian and a reflection of God, then the very reputation of God is at stake and dependent upon us! If we are God’s witnesses in the world then God will be judged based upon what people see in us! People want nothing to do with a God of bigotry, jealousy, hatred, fighting, or who tells them how “bad” they are. However, people will take notice and interest in a God that shows grace, concern and compassion, and an acceptance that says “I know your past may not be the shiniest, but I love you anyway!” I know it’s a cliché, but it is true that we might very well be the only interaction with or experience of God some people ever have.

           At the same time, the reputation of the church is on the line. I’m not just talking about our church here, but the Church of Jesus Christ throughout the world. People want nothing to do with a church that practices hypocrisy, turns it nose up at those who are down, or is more concerned with being a social club than a forgiven people proclaiming forgiveness. Show people a church, though, that recognizes that its head is Jesus Christ, that is more concerned about people than their money or their faults, and its sole purpose is to draw people into a relationship with Christ and reflect God and there is no limit to how many God will draw to that church.

           Friends, the call of God is this…return to me and find your life, your hope, and your future. It was a call to Israel and it is a call to and for us. May God give us the strength and courage each day to live as God’s faithful witnesses in this world! May it be so in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit! AMEN.

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