Holiness is not rapture: it is an entire surrender of the will to God; it is living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; it is doing the will of our heavenly Father; it is trusting God in trial, in darkness as well as in the light; it is walking by faith and not by sight; it is relying on God with unquestioning confidence, and resting in His love. The Acts of the Apostles, p. 51
As I pondered this paragraph, I thought, “I claim to be a Christian. I profess to belong to God. Because of those assertions, we can expect that I am doing what He wants. This paragraph describes what God wants in my life. He wants me to be holy and this describes what holiness looks like. Is this happening in my life? If someone followed me around every moment of my life, public and private, not just for one day but month after month for years, would they see this?” (Incidentally, Someone is watching us constantly. What does He see?)
I can profess anything. I can say I believe any number of spiritual ideas or principles, but what do I actually do? If I say, “I believe that God is able to take care of me in any circumstance.” but I worry and fret when something difficult comes along, what I really believe is “God can’t handle this. I’ll have to take care of it myself.” If I say, “I believe God wants me to have a pure mind and character.” but I watch and listen to anything that comes along in the media, what I really believe is, “God doesn’t really care. I can do anything I want.” What I do expresses and demonstrates what I really believe.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. James 2:18
If my faith is real, it will have an affect on how I think, how I respond to my circumstances, how I live my everyday life. My faith will be revealed in what I do. Like James says here, “Faith is demonstrated by works.” I live out my faith in my actions. If it doesn’t show, it isn’t very real. My body language, my everyday activity, indicates what I really believe.
A person will manifest all the faith he has. . . . He will be seeking the power that God alone can give; and the matter of most importance to him will be to see that he has a living connection with Heaven, that he may do his duty to his fellow-men, and to his God. Signs of the Times, September 9, 1889
They love God and the truth just as much as their works show, and no more. A man will act out all the faith he has. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” The heart is where the treasure is. Their treasure is upon this earth, and their heart and interests are here. Review and Herald, February 23, 1886
Do you believe that the end of all things is at hand, that the scenes of this earth’s history are fast closing? If so, show your faith by your works. A man will show all the faith he has. Some think they have a good degree of faith, when if they have any, it is dead, for it is not sustained by works. Testimonies for the Church, Vol. `1, p. 704
. . . I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Revelation 3:1
How significant is body language? Researchers may give varying percentages comparing the importance of verbal and non-verbal communication but in general, the words I use will convey only about one-fourth of the total message I give. Three-fourths of what I communicate is in my “body language,” in what I look like when I am saying something. When there is inconsistency between my words and my actions, the message of my actions overrides the message of my words.
Holiness is the fruit of faith. It is not just an internal thing. It is not merely thinking about, or talking about, what is good and right; it is living what is good and right.
What does holiness look like? Let’s ponder that opening paragraph point by point:
Holiness is:
1) an entire surrender of the will to God: When God indicates that He wants change in a certain area of my life, either to do something different or to stop doing something that I have been doing (and probably enjoyed) or any number of other things that involve change and growth and character development, do I submit and cooperate? Do I choose His will over mine regardless of how I feel about it?
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matthew 26:39
2) living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God: Moses exhorted the Israelites with this concept (Deuteronomy 8:3) to help them understand that their life should not be guided by their appetite. (Appetite is more than what your stomach says to you. It includes all your wants and wishes, good and otherwise.) Jesus spoke of this later (Matthew 4:4) in the context of Satan’s temptation to relieve His hunger in a way that His Father had not authorized. Do I turn to God to find out what He says and what He wants in my life rather than just making choices based on what my body or mind crave?
3) doing the will of our heavenly Father: This follows #1 above. God has given me the privilege and responsibility to choose how I will order my life. Do I choose to want what God wants and then choose to do what He wants? He provides all the help that is needed in both of those areas.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13
4) trusting God in trial, in darkness as well as in the light: When God allows difficult circumstances in my life; when I am going through something that is frustrating or painful and I cannot understand how any good can come from it, do I still trust His wisdom (Proverbs 3:5, 6) and His thoughts (plans) of peace for a future hope (Jeremiah 29:11)? Do I hold on to His promise that all things will work together for my ultimate good (Romans 8:28) even though everything currently looks like a disaster? Will I respond like Job?
What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. Job 2:10
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: Job 13:15
5) walking by faith and not by sight: Faith looks at invisible, eternal, heavenly factors in making decisions rather than merely the visible, tangible, current elements of a situation. Do I order my life according to the eyes of faith or according to what my senses tell me?
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
6) relying on God with unquestioning confidence: Here again I see how faith–that total trust in God’s goodness and wisdom and power–must be the consistent framework around how I order my life and how I respond to my circumstances. One of the principles that governed the life of Moses and made him a great man and an outstanding leader was his reliance on God for the solution to everything that came his way–complaints, dilemmas, guidance, etc. Do I turn to God for direction before I get input from other people? Do I rely on Him more than on myself or others for wisdom and strength? Do I trust that whatever I am going through will be okay for me because it has been allowed by His omnipotence?
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Daniel 3:16-18
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:11-13
7) resting in His love: If I am ordering my life according to God’s will and ways; if I continue to trust Him and turn to Him no matter what my circumstances are, I can relax and rest and have peace in my soul all through life.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
These are seven characteristics of the body language of a true Christian. They will be seen in my life consistently if I am what I profess to be.
A MAN WILL ACT OUT ALL THE FAITH HE HAS
What does your body language say?