Holiness

"The striking visual features of heaven are its symmetry, its light, and its fertility. It is perfectly proportioned, it is light-filled, and it is life-producing. The symmetry is a realization of entire holiness. We are being fashioned into holiness: holiness is perfectly proportioned wholeness" (Eugene Peterson, Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of John & The Praying Imagination, p. 177).

"Be holy, for I am holy." Not so much a call to good behavior as it is a call to total transformation. It is an invitation to participate - to reflect - the beauty of God: His symmetry, His light, and his life-giving presence.

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, it's not something that is easy and it's not quick. In fact it takes a lifetime of work. The wonderful thing is, however, that although we do have to exert effort, the ultimate work is God's. It is God Himself that directs and plans everything in the believer's life to work together to achieve His vision of loveliness and wholeness.

Over the last seven or eight weeks one of my bathrooms has been in the process of remodel. I had the room gutted, and changed almost everything in the room. At some time in the past my home was a duplex. The bathroom upstairs during the duplex days served as a kitchen and a bathroom. There was a kitchen sink up there as well as a bathroom vanity. There were also kitchen cabinets - hung so high that I could only reach the bottom shelf.

When the renovation began I was very excited. I figured I'd be inconvenienced for a couple of weeks and then I'd have a beautifully transformed bathroom. Four weeks or so in I began to lose my enthusiasm. Stuff was sitting everywhere (although I could only reach the bottom shelf of those cabinets, I'd still filled them up) and we were constantly tripping over each other as we tried to find a good mirror to put our make-up on in front of or dry our hair.

Although it's still not 100% completed, we're almost there. My enthusiasm is back. The space is beautiful and I'm excited as I contemplate its use. I'm glad I decided to live through the inconvenience.

I live in an old house (built in 1912). Most of the house has been remodeled since I've been here, though there is still plenty to do. With every project I'm moving closer to what I consider a thing of beauty.

I think as our inner "houses" are remodeled we go through much the same process. We may begin with some excitement and a vision of what a "remodeled" future looks like. We'll enjoy the space and enjoy inviting others into it so that they can share the beauty. When we're in the midst of change, however, we begin to wonder if it's worth it. The old comfort may not have been terrific, but now we're in a mess and it doesn't look good yet. But if we hang in there, we complete the project and have a space that we're happy to live in - and to share with others.

While there will always be some other project to do, every bit of effort we expend or inconvenience we endure moves us closer to holiness and beauty. Wherever you are today, I hope you'll stay committed to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in your life.