Hermit Religion

Hermit Crab photo courtesy of fascinatingamazinganimal.wordpress.com

I became a Christian just prior to starting middle school (check out my salvation testimony here).  I went to a public school and rode the bus 40 minutes each way.  And if you have any personal memories of this time in your life, or currently know or have children this age, you can probably conjure up in your mind how school life was like for me--the boisterous foolishness on the bus, the teasing, cursing, and incessant godliness that ensues when kids get together in a poorly supervised settings in and around, before and after school.  I can distinctly remember when summer break would roll around, and there would always be a sense of relief deep in my soul. 

Whew. I'd think. Now I can BE better. 

You see, as a regenerated believer, my soul longed to be more holy, to follow God's law and love Him with my whole heart, mind, soul, and strength.  God places that desire within each of His children when they cross over from death to life and are given a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26).  And yet, I never knew quite how to accomplish "being holy" in day-to-day life as a public-school attending sixth, seventh, and eighth grader!  So my idea of sanctification (being made more holy) was to be removed from it.  No more hearing curse words on the bus.  No more temptation to cheat on a test.  No more seeing public displays of affection in the halls.  Apart from all this, I could be better, I reasoned, as I slept in every morning, read books, played with my friends in the backyard, and just hung out with my family during those summer months.

But you see, this is NOT how true sanctification occurs, dear friend!  I love how 19th century theologian J.C. Ryle discusses it in his book Holiness:

"Sanctification does not consist in retirement from our place in life, and the renunciation of our social duties.  In every age it has been a snare with many to take up this line in the pursuit of holiness.  Hundreds of hermits have buried themselves in some wilderness, and thousands of men and women have shut themselves up within the walls of monasteries and convents, under the vain idea that by so doing they would escape sin and become eminently holy.  They have forgotten that no bolts and bars can keep out the devil, and that, wherever we go, we carry the root of all evil, our own hearts....True holiness does not make a Christian evade difficulties, but face and overcome them.  Christ would have His people show that His grace is not a mere hothouse [greenhouse] plant, which can only thrive under shelter, but a strong, hardy thing, which can flourish in every relation in life....It is not the man who hides himself in a cave, but the man who glorifies God as master or servant, parent or child, in the family and in the street, in business and in trade, who is the scriptural type of a sanctified man.  Our Master Himself said in His last prayer, 'I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil [one]' (John 17:15)"

I wish I would have known this profound and deeply liberating truth as a preteen!  I did not have to run away from the world in order to be made more holy by the Lord.  Instead, He sanctifies my heart in the midst of my station in life, to bring glory and honor to HIM!  I pray this truth would encourage you today, too, dear friend.  Perhaps you are in a difficult work environment, or stay home with unruly little ones, or have a very trying family situation.  You are put in these positions for a reason and a purpose--not only that you would be salt and light to a dark and unbelieving world (Matthew 5), but also that YOU would be made more holy!  You do not need to run and hide in a foxhole...you can boldly live in the world and "fight the good fight" and be a conduit of truth as you are made more like Him!