Chariot of Fire -2.12 - Rising to the Call of Holiness - Part 4

Last month we began reviewing what John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostle Paul taught about the motivational aspect of a true understanding of judgment. When we know we are going to give an account for every word and deed done in our bodies, that we have the hope of future reward if we rise to the call of holiness, and that we may not receive all the blessings promised by God in eternity if we don't rise to the call of holiness, we have a biblical motivation to apply these truths to our lives and relationships.

In this last article on holiness, consider what the Bible teaches about judgment and its motivation toward practical holiness.

Hebrews gives stern warnings against neglecting holiness.

The entire book of Hebrews was written to those to whom God spoke through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2). This book has stern warnings to believers who fail to pursue holiness and who live fleshly, carnal lifestyles. The most sobering warning is found in Chapter 10.

For if we [believers who are saved] go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, AND THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY" And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." [Italics by author] It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:26-31)...for our God is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29).

All pronouns in this passage refer to believers who have heard the word of Christ and trusted in Him for their eternal salvation. But the concern in the mind of the author was what their experience will be when Jesus returns to judge His people. The message is clear: if a person who has been sanctified by the blood of the covenant doesn't treat God holy and live in obedience to His word, he can expect to experience the fury of a fire in judgment. Can he expect such a thing even though He is born again by God's Spirit and saved by grace? Yes! He knows God, who has said He will judge His people and avenge those who have insulted His grace. Since this is the case, how should we live?

Later in Chapter 12, the author gives clear vision for us." Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification [holiness] without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). No one should expect to see the Lord if holiness is not pursued and God isn't treated as holy. Just as Moses and Aaron were not allowed to enter the Promised Land, neither will believers who treat God as common and neglect holy living be allowed to inherit some eternal blessings when Christ returns. This doesn't mean their spirits will not be saved from the wrath of eternal damnation, but they experience a significant loss. They will be grieved just like Esau, who although he wanted to inherit the blessing, couldn't do so because he could find no place for repentance from bitterness, greed, and lust (Hebrews 12:16-17).

Peter understood the baptism of fire and the reward of holiness.

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:6) [Italics added.]

Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY"(1 Peter 1:13-15).[Italics added]

Notice the motivation for holy living: the testing of the soul by fire and the reward when Jesus comes! We are to rejoice now when we suffer trials for holy living because we know the result will be the salvation of our souls. Our eternal salvation has already been determined by our being born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The issue inPeter's mind was the joy of the soul when Christ returns to judge all mankind, and that is totally dependent on how we behave now in this life.

In the Revelation, Jesus warned believers of the second death.

When is the first death? Some think it is when we overcome the flesh by putting it to death and living lives of holiness to the Lord; I tend to agree. When is the second death? When Jesus judges the deeds done in the flesh by the fire of His judgment. Is it possible for believers to be hurt by the second death? John recorded Jesus as saying one could be hurt by the second death if he didn't overcome doctrinal corruption, lukewarm living, cowardice, unbelief, murder, immorality, idolatry, and lying (just to name a few).

A believer may be hurt by the second death.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." Revelation 2:11

All of the warnings and promises in Revelation to the seven churches must be considered to be real and possible. Otherwise, Jesus' words are stripped of their meaning and motivation. In the case of each church, Jesus was calling them to rise to the call of holiness with specific actions in mind. The rewards at the Day of Judgment encourage us to overcome sin and practice holiness.

Jesus will judge with fire.

And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire [he sees everything and will purify], and His feet are like burnished bronze [bronze represents judgment in the OT], says this: …(Revelation 2:18).

Why did Jesus reveal Himself in this way to John and the church of Thyatira? The Spirit explicitly told John he was to write what he saw and communicate it to the seven churches. When one reads the description of the Lord Jesus in Revelation 1 and in the introductory statements to each of the churches, one can't help noticing how the description alludes to Jesus as the Judge. Consider the message to the church at Laodicea.

Let the fire of His Word refine you now so you won't be ashamed.

I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire [His Word], that you may become rich, and white garments [holiness], that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see (Revelation 3:18).

At the end of Revelation, Jesus' concluding remarks to the apostle John offer a final encouragement for believers to overcome. We may understand overcoming to be the same thing as rising to the call of holiness. In His messages to the seven churches, every time He challenged them to overcome, Jesus challenged them to set themselves apart to Him. These are not words of warning to unbelievers; they are admonitions to His church, His body, and His bride. Our Lord, Head, and eternal Husband longs to have deep, intimate, communion with us. He wishes to bless us in the day we stand in judgment. Apparently, our rising to the call of holiness insures our inheriting the blessings!

And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."And He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son" (Revelation 21:5-6).

To walk in a manner worthy of our calling, we are to treat God holy.

To the believer in Christ, holiness is not an option which can be ignored without resulting in great loss when Christ returns. From a positive perspective, if holiness is pursued, tremendous blessing and reward will be experienced. Knowing this should motivate us to work out the salvation of our souls with fear and trembling.

How do these truths impact family relationships today? Your children need to know the way they treat you is practice for how they are going to live before God and treat others in the future. If they will learn to die daily while they are children, they will continue to die daily in their relationships with their future spouses, children, and brothers and sisters in Christ. They need to know what they do now is going to impact what they experience later in life and in eternity. If we don't teach this to them, who will? I'm not suggesting this can be done in the power of the flesh or they can merit eternal salvation by treating you holy. The joy of their souls when Jesus returns is our concern. Discussing these things in this way and reading these Scriptures may also help you and your children see your sinfulness as Jesus sees it. If God is gracious, it may be a means of grace to you to motivate you to rise to the call of holiness. In our contemporary American-have-it-your-way-make everyone-feel-good time in history many bank on grace covering everything. They falsely hope they won't have to face judgment for their sins since they've trusted Christ. They may also struggle with fleshly living. If we're to rise to the call of holiness, we need to know why we should be holy and realize what we can expect if we choose to ignore this call.

The music we listen to, the things the eyes of our souls watch, every word spoken, and our attitudes and actions are important. What we do each day in the sight of God will be revisited on the Day of Judgment. His Word searches and pierces us now, and it will do the same to us then.

Love is the greatest motivation to holiness.

Although having a true understanding of judgment encourages us toward holiness, loving Jesus is the greatest motivation. Before going to His Father, Jesus told His disciples who loves Him--those who keep His word (John 14:23-24). Jesus' words sanctify us or make us holy as we keep them. The members of the seven churches of Revelation who kept Jesus' words overcame and grew in holiness.

We should treat God holy because we love Him. A child should treat his or her father and mother as holy because of love for them. Husbands love their wives and therefore set them apart from all other women when it comes to their affections, attention, and care. Wives respect their husbands and practice holiness toward them because they love them. That's why God treats us as holy--He loves us!

Are you rising to the call of holiness?

Can one imagine a believing father and mother standing at the throne of God watching as their sons and daughters stand before Jesus in the Day of Judgment? The parents stand speechless as they watch their children before the Lord. They, having gone to judgment before their children, know what must occur. They will be saved from eternal damnation, but through fire. They've been there!

They grieve that they had not confronted their children with the importance of holiness before this time. During their time on earth they had overlooked these truths in the Scriptures and they had allowed the worries, pleasures, and pursuits of this life to crowd out times of training in righteousness. Again they hear the words spoken long ago. "By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honored." So like Aaron and Moses at the judgment of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10), the parents kept silent. But it doesn't have to be that way for you!

Another vision is of a father and mother sitting at the table with their family--their Bibles open. After reading and discussing these things, a quietness and soberness of soul and spirit exists. The fire of God's Word pours forth from the mouth of God to expose and consume the flesh in preparation for meeting Christ. They bow beneath the cross of Jesus, and appropriate the atonement made at the cross. They repent of having been lukewarm, selfish, and proud as they cry out to the Lord to cleanse and purify their souls so they can love Him with all their hearts. They mourn. They thirst. They hunger. They love. They enjoy together the ministry of the Holy Spirit and begin putting to death their fleshly deeds. They pray, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!" And Jesus smiles. His bride is being made ready.

Norm Wakefield
Elijah Ministries
PO 377
Bulverde, Texas 78163
www.spiritofelijah.com