Most of us have trouble letting things go; things that have seemed to bring so much joy, pleasure, security, and even things that enable or even keep us ignorant. If the teacher could take the liberty to be transparent, one such “thing” in my life that at first brought great discomfort to let go was bodybuilding.  For the sake of time and space I will only but briefly expound upon this matter.  First I don’t believe in and of its self, bodybuilding is a sin, but I confess with experience that it is the temporal things that when left unchecked and unbalanced can become sinful. Paul exhorts us with these words of wisdom: “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.”  It was only when I was willing to weigh the costly personal investment of bodybuilding’s demands, and the personal and specific paths I believed the sovereign Lord was leading me to, the conclusion I came to was it no longer profited me.  I still find great enjoyment in pounding the weights, but not only does it not have a prominent seat anymore, without any hesitation or reservation it is the first of my personal investments to suffer for the sake of others. Coming to the point of our study, let’s begin with a few observations to apply to our walk.

1. There can be no transformation in our lives without a willingness to “OMIT”
2. What we omit generally ( or collectively) is solely based upon the God’s word and the demands it places on us
3. What we omit personally is, just that personal. It comes not by force, nor by might, but the leading of the Spirit. Are there Christian bodybuilders? Absolutely, but for me “personally” it was a pursuit I need to forsake
4. Lastly, and hopefully what we will build upon in this study is we are challenged daily by God to omit. If this challenge is not heeded ,what we choose to hold on to can become a contaminate

Contamination is a serious issue; one that if avoided by foolish neglect can have a myriad of consequences, not only for us personally (choose to sin, choose to suffer), but all we find ourselves connected to (choose to sin, choose to bring suffering to others).  When we apply this to Bible study, our unwillingness to omit contamination (doubt, perspectives, the old man…etc.) is not only unwise, but also a grievous affront to God and His provided Christ. Omitting is tough mostly because it cost us to release parts of ourselves we have either grown to love or have tried to so hard to cover up. Omitting is also the process of bringing us to Holiness, or “Wholeness”. Leviticus (the most exciting book of the Bible) is the book of Holiness which means it is also the book of omitting applied. We find the context for our lesson in Chapters 13, and 14 hoping we can shake the dust off this often avoided text, seeking the application By the Holy Spirit.

Leviticus is a book of rich symbols: these symbols are deep illustrations that find their application in the New Testament. At first read it can seem dry and of no value to the modern unreligious Christian, but hopefully a fresh perspective and open curiosity for the whole counsel of God’s word we can extract these symbols for our modern edification.  Let’s begin with this thought; what we wear says a lot about who we are and what we value. This has always to some degree throughout history been true. What we wear is the message we are choosing to express. Often we make considerations to wear what is suitable for a given task. A solider comes prepared to fight, a teacher to teach, a judge to judge. These examples are endless but an observation we can make in everyday life is this; often the message we chose to convey by our attire is that  what we wear is in one respect an expression of our character, or the character that our profession wants us to put on display. The question then is, is what we wear a biblical symbol for one’s character also? I believe this to be true, but let us see if the scriptures make this claim.  Paul writes in Romans: “But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”  Here we see two characters in view, and a choice to choose wisely.  Later in the book of Colossians he declares: “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Again we are given insight that what is worn visibly is all about character. What then does this have to do with Leviticus and how can we attach these applications to Old Testament symbols.  Let’s begin by reading Leviticus 13:47-49,

⁴⁷ “When a garment(character) has a mark of leprosy(contamination) in it, whether it is a wool garment or a linen garment, ⁴⁸ whether in warp or woof, of linen or of wool, whether in leather or in any article made of leather, ⁴⁹ if the mark is greenish or reddish in the garment or in the leather, or in the warp or in the woof, or in any article of leather, it is a leprous mark and shall be shown to the priest.

We find on the surface that God is greatly concerned by things that contaminate. We also see in view that the garment (character) is important to preserve, and for the sake of preservation checking for symptoms of contamination is two-fold. On one side you have the personal responsibility of the one who wears the garment on the other you have accountability imposed by the one who inspects your garment. In the text the imposed accountability come from a priest, because he alone knows the mind of God (Think of our great high priest Jesus). A priest is the intercessor, or the one who stands between two for the benefit of man. What we may infer then is God is concerned about reconciling the blemishes that destroy holiness (wholeness) in our character. Another question that comes to mind might be what envelops the symbol of character? This question has an important answer because we want to be aware of what God is inspecting in us. I think it would be easier if we look at character as relational, and from that vantage point we see that it is our personalities, thoughts, motives, attitudes, behaviors, and interactions that are subject to contamination. Where the symptoms of contamination go unanswered they become destructive because they aggressively spread.

A Garment (character) may fit well and even be pleasing to the eye: it may have been fashioned with great concern and skill in mind, but in the end by neglect be ruined by a blemish in the area of our character mentioned above. I wonder if you caught the hasty judgment I just made. It is something we all commonly do, sometimes without even a thought. God doesn’t make the outright judgment that the garment is ruined. In fact he looks to reconcile the garment, preserve the garment.  God goes to great detail in how the priest working together with the owner of the garment can restore it, or better stated make whole again. It isn’t until all else fails the judgment comes, the burning of what is not fit is prescribed.

As we set our gaze to our approach to studying the Scriptures we see that God is concerned about making us whole. That wholeness comes by the inspection of the Spirit of God, working with us to reveal the symptoms of contamination and convince us that God has made away to reconcile us to Him. Remember these words from Romans 12,

”And do not be conformed to this world (contaminated), but be transformed (made whole) by the renewing of your mind (inspection. Instituting, omitting), so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

In the second installment of this lesson the teacher, Lord willing will commit to deal with the remedy giving to reconcile the garment back to wholeness, and seek to discuss the house that becomes contaminated. Until then pick up your sword… it the leather one. - Ryan