God, our Heavenly Father, is so much to so many people. We describe Him as merciful, great, good, kind, long-suffering, jealous, faithful, mighty, compassionate, forgiving, the Rock, Ancient of Days, consuming fire, omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent (He’s everywhere) and omniscient (He knows everything.)
The characteristics of God is that He is love and He is holy. Through repentance and conversion the love of God is on display in our hearts with feelings that cannot be denied. The love, peace and joy are incredibly strong as we try to express “What just happened to me?” The power of God’s presence and the evidence of our first touch with the Almighty has been revealed. There is a God in heaven that came down and touched my weary soul, saved me from destruction and that loves me with an everlasting love. “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3: 16) “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4: 7-11 & 16)
God is holy, sacred, righteous, godly and without sin. Holiness is a word that people shy away from but it is everything that God is ….. purity. We were made in the image and likeness of God and His precious Son, Jesus, so there should be some evidence that we belong to Him. We were bought with a price by the holy blood of Jesus to live unto God, doing the will of God and serving Him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives, presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began…” (2 Timothy 1: 9) “God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness.” (Psalm 47: 8) “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.” (Psalm 48: 1)
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY WHICH WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME.
As Moses came on the scene to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt, his encounter with the burning bush was on holy ground so that he had to take off his shoes. Being in the presence of Almighty God is spectacular, and it is joyful, and it is glorious! After the great miracle at the Red Sea, Moses and the children of Israel sang a victory song and said, “Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15: 11) “Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.” (Psalm 30: 4)
In preparing the priest and the high priest to go into the Holy and Most Holy Place, their garments and everything had to be holy in order to offer up the atonement for the sins of the people.
God’s requirement for holiness is everywhere. Heaven is holy, the angels are holy, the Spirit is holy, New Jerusalem is holy, the prophets and apostles were holy, the anointing oil is holy, the Sabbath Day of rest is holy, where Joshua stood was holy, the scriptures are holy, the mountain where Jesus was transfigured is holy, the throne of God is holy, the covenant is holy and God is holy. “For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11: 45) “And ye shall be holy unto Me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be Mine.” (Leviticus 20: 26) “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1: 15-16) “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isaiah 57: 15)
Jesus is holy. He is the mediator of a better covenant which was established upon better promises, became the High Priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect tabernacle. He offered Himself without spot to God by His own blood and entered into the Holy Place having obtained eternal redemption for us. He is our High Priest Who is seated at the right hand of God making intercession for us. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher the heavens.
The beauty of holiness is living a clean, sober, righteous life and being holy in all that we do. Our sinful nature wants to do what it was accustomed to doing. Lying, cheating, stealing, fornicating, drinking, drugs, fighting, smoking, partying, joking, grudging, bitterness, anger, foolishness and anything else that is contrary to the Word and will of God. All unrighteousness is sin and shouldn’t be named among us as becometh saints. God causes us to walk cautiously, discreetly, using good judgement, being wise and redeeming the time because the days are evil. How much of our time is devoted to Him?
As ambassadors, and as being the temple of God, He expects us to separate ourselves from the unclean things. He wants to receive us and to be a Father to us, to dwell and walk in us, but not according to our terms but to His terms. It’s not about us anymore. We are new creatures. Many are called but few are chosen. The ones willing to do for God are the chosen ones. Sin separates us from God and it keeps us from having the abundant life that God intended for His children. “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 Corinthians 7: 1) The Holy Spirit will definitely check and convict us of all manner of things. “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. And ye shall keep My statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.” (Leviticus 20: 7-8) “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 4: 7-8) “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4: 22-24) “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 7: 6)
God’s will is for all to come to repentance and to have fellowship with Him. From the very beginning we had a difficult time obeying His commandments. Now is no different. The choice is still ours to obey or not. Earthly knowledge has distorted people’s perception of God and holiness has changed, love has waxed cold, people do what is right in their own eyes and bibles are published to fit our own needs. Where does that leave God? Do we honestly think that we can skirt around God’s holy truth in disobedience and He is going to let it slide? We will not make it into heaven doing our own righteousness, thinking that it’s holiness. Sin is sin and God hates sin. Sin has no place in a holy heaven. Sin cannot and will not be tolerated in the face and presence of a holy God.
God gives specific and precise instructions as to how we inherit eternal glory. He will not, and never will, sway from His Word. God continuously sends out warnings in His Word and by his holy servants in this day and age just like He did thousands of years ago. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1: 21)
You cannot love the world and love God too. His way is a way of complete holiness. Nothing unclean will ever be tolerated in His sight. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1 John 2: 15-16)
God is still giving us time to do it right. We mess up, repent and try again. He sees us when we press and also when our hearts want no part of Him. He sees when we give 100% as well as when we give 2%. Is my running in vain? Do I really, really, really want to commit myself 100% to a God that I cannot see? Am I willing to separate myself from the things that I love to do, the things that may not be pleasing to God? Can I really strip off and live a holy, consecrated life before God? Does He approve of my actions, words, places I go, the people I hang out with, what I eat, what I watch, what I wear, what I think about and how I treat people? I must daily check the status of my holiness. I might do very well today and fail miserably tomorrow. Don’t fret, just repent and try again. When we are truly after God He will teach us how to live holy. When we put His Word into practice He will be the Father that is pleased with our press and pour out blessings all over the place. “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29: 2) “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2: 5 & 9)
Mansions are reserved in a holy heaven waiting for a holy, blessed people. What was lost in Adam and Eve we gained an eternal legacy in Christ. He will refresh, renew and replenish with joy over and over again.
Be not dismayed but be encouraged that God has invited you to spend eternity with Him, His Son, the angels and all of the other saints who had to live the holy life. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1: 3-6) “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (2 Peter 3: 10-14) “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12: 14)
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