Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Sept/73

Contributor - John P. Drost

Title - The Whole of Life

Topic - Discipleship

Zechariah 14: 20 "And on that day, there shall he inscribed on the bells of horses, "holy to the Lord".

That phrase, 'holy unto the Lord' was found in the Old Testament on the vestment of the priest. And here is where you would expect it: in the Church. And indeed, here is where we must expect it: in the lives of those who are called to give leadership to the church.

In the Church, then, is where things are to be holy, that is to say, where things are reformed and shaped according to God's Word and Will, where they answer to His purpose.

However, the Bible goes further. It carries that word 'holy' beyond the pale of the Church. In the Bible there is no real difference between what is done in the Church and what is done outside the Church. The Bible does not really know of any "part time religion", for in the Bible all things are to be holy unto the Lord.

And that comes home to us in that picture of Zechariah, a picture of the end, in which God's purposes for the world are proclaimed and revealed. What we are shown here is put in the words of our Scripture verse: "and in that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses: holy unto the Lord."

As we were saying: "You would expect that inscription on the vestment of a priest, on a Church door, on a communion table," but on the bells of horses, on a THING such as that......... ?

Yes, on a THING like that. The inscription is as important on the ordinary workaday things as it is on the door of the Church; it is as important on your toolbox, your ledger book, your pots and pans (see verse 21) as it is on the communion table.

What is to be our orientation in the "whole" of life, not only in the Church but also in the world? Where lies the road to restoration and healing in a world where confusion prevails so strongly?

It is essentially this, that we write on every THING and EVERYthing the simple formula: "holy unto the Lord." If those words reflect my allegiance to the Lord God, the will to reform and reshape according to His Will and Word, He will grant life and peace and joy, justice, contentment and order. But where those words remain unwritten, and THINGS are left unholy, there the Lord will leave confusion, and disorder, and despair, until LIFE is no more ....

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