“Without holiness no-one will see the Lord.” Heb 12:14
Now holiness means consecration, purification, the effect of consecration, the sanctification of heart and life. It means to be set apart and to be undefiled by sin, being free from wickedness. God clearly states:
“I am the LORD your God: you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy" Lev 11:44
Thus, His children are called to holiness, to be a people separated out to God. Now that word holiness is very expressive and comprehensive in its scope. It is not for us as His children to decide what constitutes being holy and what does not. That which God commands is right, that which He forbids is wrong. Holiness is therefore a state of cleanness in the sight of God. Such cleanness consists of being free from all that is indicated as being morally polluting by the word of God.
God is holy, He is supreme above all and His word is law. The things He calls clean are holy, are set apart for Him, that which He calls unclean will not enter His presence. Truly, it is not for us to decide standards of right and wrong, of what is acceptable and what is not and what is truth and what is falsehood. There is but one standard and one standard alone, the Word of God. Isaiah records:
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20
We never can be completely holy, because we all fail in some way, we are all weak and we all have a tendency to sin. Yet all God asks of us is that we have faith, that we trust in Him, that we believe His word and that we persevere despite our weaknesses. Separation is an attitude of mind, directed by the emotions of the heart being focussed towards God. We must turn to Him, love Him above all else and obey His word. The wisdom of this world with all its research into this and that, all it’s philosophies and all it’s sophistries, is but foolishness in the sight of God. Thus it is Paul who writes:
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no-one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 1Cor 1:27-30
There is nothing in the world that can bring salvation, for salvation has been wrought by God in the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Christ alone can we be made holy unto our Creator. Those who truly seek the ways of their Creator will heed the exhortation of Paul:
"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2Cor 6:17-18
What an immense privilege that we who are but dust, should be called out to be sons of the living God! What more could we want! Therefore, let us be separate and undefiled by this world, diligently preparing for that day, so soon to come, when the Lord Jesus shall at last return.
Andy P.