Jesus Isn't Decaf (By Naomi Meyers)

With deep concern, Peter dipped his pen in ink and set it to parchment. Times were growing increasingly difficult. Persecution was coming. The exiled Christians scattered around Asia Minor were perilously close to feeling the assault on the church. Perhaps some already were. It was a terrifying time to be a Christian. It was also an important time to be a Christian, to follow God, to be holy, and to live like it. 

Peter was especially concerned that they live like it. As the hardships and suffering and persecution rained down, he wanted to know they were able to persevere, stand firm, stay holy. They could quote the verbiage. He wasn’t worried about that. No. Peter was more concerned that they look within. Check their hearts. Determine if they could withstand the coming evil onslaught. Was there anything that would hinder their ability to stand in the evil day? Anything that would distract them? Anything that would beckon them away from their first love?  Was there anything that, when fiery trials, extensive tests, and unprecedented sufferings came, would cause their spiritual spine to buckle and allow them to renounce the cause of Christ? (I Peter 4:12-17) 

It seems Peter has reason to be concerned. He’s made a list of things they might find. The obvious desire of their hearts to engage in evil. Twisting or hiding of truth to promote their own preference. Lifestyles at odds with their purported beliefs. The spreading of lies with the intent of damaging another’s character. The list is disconcerting. Peter has a right to be concerned. He can only see what their actions reveal. What else might be there? What else could their traitorous hearts be concealing?  If his cursory human examination revealed these hideous things, what would the thorough examination of a holy God uncover? (I Peter 2:1) 

Would it uncover adulterers, thieves, and meddlers among them? Would God’s microscope find unbelief, cowardice, fear, idolatry, and evildoing in their ranks? Would the light of God, to whom no heart is hidden, reveal a church, a people, willing to jeopardize their spiritual stability for a few precious sins? Did they realize those same sins would render useless their ability to endure hardness with the confidence of a consecrated people secure in their identity as children of God?  (I Peter 4:15; Revelation 21:8; Romans 8:27; Hebrews 4:13)

That’s who they were. Children of God. Peter has already told them this. He has already explained, in no uncertain terms, who they are in Christ. Chosen. Royal. Holy. God’s own possession. Called out of the darkness of their sinful lives into the glorious light of His holiness. They are redeemed. They are also called to keep the great commandment given by God, passed down from generation to generation, that would keep them walking in His light, “Be holy, because the Lord your God is holy.” Nothing has changed since the words were originally spoken. Not the commands. Not the requirements. Not the results. Holy people will always be God’s people. Without holiness, no one can be. (I Peter 2:9; Hebrews 12:14; Deuteronomy 7:6; Leviticus 11:44; I Thessalonians 4:7)

Unfortunately, throughout history, humanity has attempted to adjust the prerequisites. Scholars and preachers, writers and readers, consistently attempt to re-interpret the commands and requirements for holiness. A twist of verbiage here. A new translation of an ancient language there. An allegedly innocuous refresh of Scripture to make it more relevant to our day. Surely God didn’t mean that for us now. Certainly, in our enlightened and advanced era, God wouldn’t make those requirements. There has to be more latitude in those rules, more flexibility in the commands. Churches and Christians have happily adapted their thinking, their understanding, their living to the newly “discovered” requirements. As I watch them trade holiness for happiness, I find myself in Peter’s position, worriedly wondering if our souls still have the spiritual fortitude to withstand the coming onslaught of fiery trials. Have we hedged our bets on a form of godliness and edited out the holiness? If we presented ourselves today for examination before God, where exactly, would the lines fall? (Psalm 111:8; Luke 21:23; Proverbs 30:5-6; Galatians 1:6-9; Numbers 23:19)

We are in dire need of examination. By ourselves. By godly peers. By God Himself. We have become so complacent. We have let down our guard. We have listened to the convenient ideas of those who seek to water down the Words of Life. Because we embraced instead of rejected the diversion from the truth, we are not the stalwart examples of godliness we once were. Our obedience has flagged. Our holiness has faltered. Our ability to faithfully stand firm in the face of unprecedented testing is highly suspect, possibly impossible. 

Our hearts and lives are full of things that shouldn’t be there. Things Peter called out over 1,900 years ago. Envy, anger, lying, jealousy, fake faith, false love. The list is not exhaustive. It was not applicable only in Peter’s day, either. No. The sins on that list are all very much alive and well today. And Peter’s solution is just as applicable. Put them aside. Evict them. Set them out on the curb like garbage. Get rid of your sin! Straighten up! Use the energy you are wasting on sin to chase after the holiness to which God has called you. Holiness without which you’ll never stand. Not in the easy times. Not in the evil day. Not in the presence of Almighty God. (I Peter 2:1; Ephesians 6:13; Habakkuk 1:13; Revelation 21:27; I Corinthians 6:9-10)

I can’t speak for you, but I so want to stand there. The magnificent presence of Almighty God. What a thought! It overwhelms my soul. My eyes sting with unshed tears. It’s beyond my imagination. Awe-inspiring. Breathtaking. The very thought renders me speechless. But I’m impatient. I don’t want to wait until eternity to stand in God’s presence. I want to revel in it now. Every day. I want God to be an active, vital part of my life, my decisions, my world. I welcome His scrutiny, His judgment to discipline, His examination for my betterment. I must have it. There is no other path to holiness. And, for me, anything less than holiness is not an option. (I Corinthians 11:32; Isaiah 6:1-4; Revelation 3:19; Job 5:17-18)

Is it for you? Is there some form of earthly happiness usurping the place of holiness in your life? I hope not. I hope you long for holiness, seek it with your whole being. I hope you willingly open your heart, your mind, your life to God’s scrutiny. Let Him be your judge. Allow Him to sift through the thoughts, feelings, secrets, and desires hidden in the darkest corners of your soul. Let Him be the judge of their holiness. There may need to be some uncomfortable changes. Welcome them. They are for your good. They are to make you holy. They will increase your strength and enable you to stand when everything around your soul is shaking and failing. (Psalm 144:1-3; Hebrews 12:6-11; Psalm 139:23-24; Matthew 5:48)

Many years ago, a very wise man told me, “God’s job is not to make you happy. God’s job is to make you holy.” The words were true then; they are true now. For me. For you. For our spiritual fortitude. So let God examine your heart. Evict the things that stand between you and full obedience to Him. Consecrate yourself to Him and seek holiness with your whole heart. Seek holiness to the exclusion of all things. Seek holiness over happiness. In seeking, may you find and may your soul come to rest in the happiness of the holiness of God.