SightSeeing

“Make every effort…to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14

Some sights should not be missed.

If you’re close to the Grand Canyon, drop by and drop your jaw. As you travel in Switzerland, gaze up at the Alps. When in Niagara, gape down at the falls. Should you find yourself in Rome, don’t skip the Sistine Chapel. (Hint: try not to show up during the Feast of St. Peter or the doors will be locked!) And as you go through the normal everydays of life, look for the Lord.

Haven’t seen much of Him lately? Perhaps you’re not looking hard enough, or perhaps you’re not living holy enough. Sounds tough, but it’s solid theology. “Make every effort to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord”(Heb. 12:14).

The unsullied character of God is so different from our sinful nature that we would die if in His presence on our own, but since God wanted us near, Christ has become “our righteousness, holiness, and redemption”(1 Cor. 1:30). “He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation”(Col. 1:22). In love and grace, God has made us holy so we can see His face—forever. “Without holiness no one will see the Lord.” In love and grace, our Father also wants us to live holy so we can see Him—now. “Without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Unless we let God’s holiness show up in our actions and attitudes, our purposes and priorities, we will struggle to sense and understand how God is working and what He is doing. We will journey through our day and miss Jesus.

God is alive and active in your commitments, the caller on your cell phone, and the conversation around your supper table. Opportunities and responsibilities are inner-doors into God’s workings, and crossing paths with acquaintances are divine appointments. Seeing God in every venture and at every venue transforms your day from dull to delightful. You start to sense your small part in His big story, and you are thrilled by His grace.

Such sight is brought about by holiness—by keeping the lens of your life clean and clear. To do so requires exertion, concentration, and constant confession. “Make every effort to be holy.” Start by staring at Jesus. Begin with the Gospels and go on from there to devour all of God’s Word. Pray like crazy—talking with God throughout your day about all of your day. And when choosing the what’s and how’s of your words and works, consider how you can best imitate and communicate Christ. When you focus on Jesus as your priority and authority, you’ll find that you find Him everywhere.

You see more of God by looking like Him than by looking for Him.
He’s a sight that should never be missed.