John over at "Skywalking" posted about holiness and his post got me thinking...
When it comes to holiness, as an individual, but even more so as a pastor, if that makes any sense, this is what's going through my mind...
To be holy & complete is to be set aside and grow to maturity for the sake of living out Christ's mission (being missional)...to seek and save that which is lost, to go after the one lost sheep, to make disciples of all peoples, tribes and nations.
It is not to become "ready" for the eternal worship service in the sky.
So many us seem to see everything spiritual as having only one end...eternal life. Jesus died so that you and I could go to heaven. That's a wonderful part of our hope, for sure, but in so doing, there's a chance to miss one of Jesus' most precious themes..."May God's Kingdom be on Earth as it is in heaven!"...."All creation groans waiting for redemption" Here's the question, Is that a false hope? Or does Jesus want Heaven on earth and creation redeemed? (I know it was Paul who said the latter)
How is it that that never made it into our theology? Oh yes, the eternal service in the sky...The danger with that is that we can get caught up getting ready for something that might not happen for another ten thousand years, and miss the opportunities in our lifetime, today, to make things here, as they are in heaven.
Posted by ed | TrackBack