. . it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’ —1 Peter
We must continually remind ourselves of the purpose of life. We are not destined to happiness, nor to health, but to holiness. Today we have far too many desires and interests, and our lives are being consumed and wasted by them.
It can be confusing with so many competing messages about what life’s purpose really is about. These messages come in many forms—TV, movies, novels, news programs, talk-radio, and magazine articles & images to name a few.
The flesh always compromises to that which gives immediate satisfaction. For the Christian, there are two negatives that hit at once--the false philosophy of our culture about what life is about and our flesh which wages war against the spirit.
Many of our pursuits may be right, noble, and good, and may later be fulfilled, but in the meantime God must cause their importance to never become our meaning or purpose. The only thing that truly matters is whether a person will accept the God who will make him holy. At all costs, a person must have the right relationship with God.
It is amazing how many difficulties are solved when we strive after holiness in our lives. Because we seek God's desires, we are free to make sound choices. One good choice after another allows us to live a life free of complexity.
We need to ask…
Do I believe I need to be holy?
Do I believe that God can come into me and make me holy?
The preaching of the gospel awakens an intense resentment because it is designed to reveal my unholiness, but it also awakens an intense yearning and desire within me. God has only one intended destiny for mankind— holiness.
His only goal is to produce saints. God is not some eternal blessing-machine for people to use, and He did not come to save us out of pity— He came to save us because He created us to be holy.
Atonement through the Cross of Christ means that God can put me back into perfect oneness with Himself through the death of Jesus Christ, without a trace of anything coming between us any longer.
The confusion of purpose focuses on the details and forgets all the discipline, turning away from evil, and daily walk is about relationship with the one true God of the universe so that nothing comes between us and God any longer.
The same is true about our earthly relationships as well. A man of God will not let any barrier come between the relationship between his wife and himself. He will fight for the purity of that relationship. Every time he turns his eyes away from temptation is because of the love for his wife and anything that gets in the way of this love he removes. Same with our love for God.
Never tolerate, because of sympathy for yourself or for others, any practice that is not in keeping with a holy God. Holiness means absolute purity of your walk before God, the words coming from your mouth, and every thought in your mind— placing every detail of your life under the scrutiny of God Himself.
Holiness is not simply what God gives me, but what God has given me that is being exhibited in my life.
Exalt the LORD our God worship at his holy mountain, the LORD our God is holy --Psalm 99:9
Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. --Psalm 30:4
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. --2 Cor 7:1
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the earth, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love --Ephesians 1:4
…Holiness is a pure character, undefiled by the sins of this world. --Ephesians 5:1-16
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