Years ago Nancy and I
participated in a conference titled “Journey into Wholeness in Christ,” led by
Conlee and Signa Boutishbaug, two itinerate teachers in the Church. This conference sensitized me to the reality
that my day-by-day walk with Christ is not only a journey into holiness
(becoming like Christ) but also a journey into wholeness (being healed in body,
mind and spirit by Christ). This journey in holiness
and wholeness in all its facets is what the Church calls “Sanctification.”
Sanctification is
exchanging the ungodly influences of the world, the flesh and the devil for the
divine influences of Christ and His Holy Spirit. It is a journey in which the Holy Spirit
makes us a totally new creation- not partly holy, not partly healed, but
totally healthy, whole and holy.
Sanctification is being healed of both our fallen human nature, as well
as the ravages and wounds inflicted on us by life in this fallen world.
In one of our Max
Lucado teachings from a few years back at Holy Trinity, Max drew a magnificent word picture for
us of Heaven as a place of wholeness. I
appreciate the way he said it: “You are
going to love Heaven because it is where you are at your best. You are also going to love Heaven because
it is where everyone else is at their best. God impounds all imperfections at the
gate.”
The wonderful reality
for us Christians is that this journey into wholeness begins now. “It is not just pie in the sky by and by; it is cake on
the plate today.”
Father Rob
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