Living holy lives does not seem to be much of a big deal these days. One reason I like some of the great Puritan writers is because so many of them focused on holiness. Holiness is a concept that seems to have been lost, in many cases, in an attempt to exercise liberty or be popular or reach to reach out to and appeal to the world.
But the Bible still says ‘be ye holy as I am holy.’ God desires holiness – if it was not clear enough the writerof Hebrews writes ‘pursue peace with men, and holiness, without no one can see the Lord.’
This is a natural follow on to the previous verse on separation. They spell out what makes the difference in coming out from the world. The surest way to be different and to be separate is to be holy.
It is sad to see Christians, including myself, see what we can get away with instead of seeing holiness as our goal. Of course, we we all declared holy at salvation with all the holiness of Christ. When it comes to eternity our holiness is sealed. They day is coming when we will we will get to enjoy all the blessings of our holiness while we get to heaven.
In the meantime though is this challenge for everyday practical, or a perfecting, holiness in our lives. There is a holiness that we must be practicing. We, ourselves, are called on to live day by day by day choosing the holy instead of the unholy. Being holy means that we live lives that are separated from the ways of the world and separated unto the Lord. Those around me ought to see holiness manifested in our lives. That is what is going to make the difference. Some Christians think that we can draw people by acting like them. ‘I’m a Christian, but look, I am just like you’ is not going to help people see Jesus in us.
Holiness is not a put on, better than you, man-made piety – it is living for and living like Jesus to draw others to Him.
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