| One of the most difficult responsibilities in the Christian life is to live in holiness. Some Christians dislike and avoid the topic of holiness. They are more interested in the topic of blessings, miracles, healing or restoration. In actuality, holiness is God’s will for all Christians. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Pet 1:15-16). Arthur W Pink, in his book The Attributes of God makes a valid point when he writes, “We are not called to be all-knowing or all-powerful as God is, but we are called to be holy … and that in all manner of deportment.” (1 Pet 1:15, Webster’s Bible Translation) Holiness is the way we live life that God has set for all of us believers! One Bible dictionary defines holiness as “separation to God and conduct fitting for those separated”. Author Frederick Buechner said that when one writes about someone’s character, “nothing is harder to make real than holiness”. He added, “holiness is not a human quality at all, like virtue. Holiness is … not something that people do, but something that God does in them.” This means that God calls believers to live according to His standards, to a level of life that Christ lived when He was on earth. There is no excuse for us not to do so because God has given us the Holy Spirit to be with us, enabling, strengthening, teaching, and guiding us to the truth (John 16:13). God has also given to us His Word, a supreme standard for us believers. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). Therefore, the writer of the book of Hebrews advises his readers, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). In this age, many are pursuing worldly things; success, achievements, wealth, popularity and so on, at the expense of spiritual things. If we really want to live in holiness, we ought to prioritise pursuing things of eternal value. True holiness is the key to experiencing the blessings of God but many do not want to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit and do not want to obey God’s Word. Instead, they choose to give in to the desires of the flesh with all its lusts. God’s will for believers is “to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Eph 1:4). Father, I want to partake in Your work of changing me to becoming more like Jesus. Help me walk in Your ways. Without Your working in me, nothing of lasting value will sprout in my cultivation of holiness in me. The choice to pursue holiness is a matter of life or death. ~ David C McCasland |
