"Holiness: Missed It By THAT Much"

As a kid, I enjoyed watching the old 1960's sitcom, Get Smart. You know, the one with the bumbling secret agent, Maxwell Smart (a.k.a Agent 86, for all you CONTROL agents out there), who would somehow always win out over the bad guys -- usually the agents from the villainous CHAOS organization, who were always bent on taking over the world. Thanks for keeping us free, Max!

But in his wacky, slapstick fashion -- as could only have been written by Mel Brooks -- he would inevitably screw up, or make a mess of things, only to look at the camera and say, "Missed it by THAT much!"

When it comes to holiness, I wonder how many folks miss out on the blessing because they're looking for the wrong thing. Rather than focusing on "What do I have to deal with in the depths of my own heart, soul, and nature?" they're looking for a formula (do these 5 things, then turn around 3 times and click your heels while saying, "there's no place like home, there's no place like home...") which will somehow deliver an experience -- a tingly, metaphysical, hocus-pocus, light-from-heaven-shining-down-while-angel-voices-sing kind of thing. Like Max, people looking for that sort Holy Ghost emotional thrill ride have "...missed it by THAT much."

You see, too many are hoping for God to sanctify them -- to make their hearts clean -- without any interest or willingness in surrender on their part. Wanting a kind of a have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too relationship with the sin that's still in their heart, they'd opt to perform their way into the blessing, if they could. They'd be willing to give more, or do more, or fulfill some pre-arranged list of requirements rather than have to come to grips with self-related issues of the heart.

That pesky little point is where people often times wind up missing out on what God would bless them with.

How about you...? Have you ever let go of what you might consider to be "acceptable sins?" You know, those annoying little slips of the tongue that you wind up apologizing for, the flare of temper that you try to keep in check, the presence of pride that shows up at awkward times, the selfishness you really hope you've kept hidden, the way you rationalize what you watch or look at... I think you get the idea and can come up with your own list, right?

If by some chance you have a problem putting your finger on any "harmless" little ol' sin area that you might have kept around and cuddled up to, here's a tip -- ask God to show you what He sees; to show you any areas that still need addressing and cleaning.

Now here's where the price tag gets too high for some: Once God has shown you those things you've always thought of as just some innocent little habit (c'mon...no big deal, right?) or what you might label an occasionally inconvenient behavior that you've simply learned to live with (I've always been that way...), you've got to kill it! Not cage it, chain it up, tie it down, or lock it away. You've got to drag it kicking and screaming to the altar and kill it dead!

"Gee, Howell, a little extreme, don't you think?"

Yeah, I guess it is. But God's the One saying that's what it takes. Check it out for yourself:

Rom 8:13

For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die;

but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,

you will live...

Col 3:5

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature...

So to any of you really interested in holiness (which the Bible describes pretty clearly as a must-have requirement for anyone who would "...see the Lord."), know that it comes with a price -- death to some habits, lifestyles, desires, and behaviors that you've probably become cozy with. But trust me on this...the life of holiness God gives you in return for the death of those old leeches that sucked spiritual life and vitality out of you will more than make up for anything you think you've lost.

So whaddya say...? You up for it?

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot...!

Willis