Reflections From Sunday Evening

The theme of holiness streams throughout the Bible.  Holiness is found in the Old Testament.  Holiness runs clear through the New Testament.  Holiness is a theological theme we have studied and discussed over and over.
My great-grandmother went to the Church of God Holiness.  She was a "holiness" church person.  Her holiness was of the sort where she did not wear jewelry and maintained a modest outward appearance.
Holiness has been defined by dietary laws (Old Testament) and avoiding sin.
Holiness of heart and life is something I continually pursue along with millions of others.  My problem is I am not sure exactly what it looks like.  I have concluded that holiness is not merely the absence of anything "bad".  I can move in the direction of perfect love for God and others but find that hard to describe.  I do know holiness is much more than self-denial and self-righteousness!
Currently I think like this.  There is a biblical image of "seeing in a glass darkly".  That could be a mirror that reflects or a glass that is looked through.  The point is made that the glass is cloudy, or tarnished.  (That is one way we describe human nature in light of Original Sin - the image of God in us is sadly tarnished).
So what if holiness was like a crystal clear glass.  When a person looks through the glass into our heart they see Jesus with perfect clarity.  So holiness is having the tarnish removed so others may see Christ in us with clarity.
There is more.  We are also able to see Christ in others and in the world with clarity.
These would be the results of holiness.  So how does the tarnish get removed.  We can surely remove some obstacles from our own lives.  But it is ultimately not up to us.  Grace upon grace continues to transform us and holiness is the result.
I pray you see Christ in the world and in the lives of others with greater clarity this week.  That is a sign of holiness!  May others see Christ in us with increasing clarity.
It's been a great day.  I hope you've had a great day too.
steve