Bible Reading: Ezekiel 5,6,7: Hebrews 12
“Follow peace with all men, and Holiness, without which no man shall see God.” Hebrews 12:14 (KJV)
We are in a time of “feel good” Christianity, where we are all trying to feel good. We are at a time when a lot of us are encumbered by lots of cares and need the word of God to make us feel good. While God’s word would certainly serve as comfort for us in the face of difficulties and challenges, the word of God is not to make us “feel good”. There now seems to be what I would consider a gross neglect of the injunction to be Holy. It is absolutely imperative that we are reminded of this timeless truth of God’s word. Be holy!
The Apostle Paul begins this verse by encouraging us to follow peace with all men and quickly follows it up with holiness. I find this progression of instruction really interesting because in the bid to follow peace with all men, holiness can be sacrificed. Following peace with all men is not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. The scriptures admonish us to come out from among them and be ye separate and holy. Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:14(KJV), “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness.“ Living in peace with all men must not be compromised by lowering God’s standard of holiness, hence the Apostle knowing this may be the case so he quickly admonished us to be holy, without which no man shall see God. In the pursuit of peace, personal holiness takes preeminence. The message of Holiness is as important today as it was when this passage was written and it holds the same value today as well.
The Apostle Paul is not alone in passing out this instruction. In 1 Peter 1:15, the Apostle Peter calls us to the same consciousness when he said, “But as He which called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy.” The standard is set and cannot be lowered. We must aspire to Godlike holiness if indeed we want to see the Lord.
For us today, in a time such as this when the preaching of holiness is scarce and where there is the exaltation of our wants and desires more than God’s timeless standard of holiness, we must strive to live by these words. We remember the Apostle Paul saying to us that “…The foundation of God stands sure…” We cannot see God without complete holiness! There is no other way. You and I must give ourselves wholly to the pursuit of holiness.
Prayer: Lord, I have not paid complete attention to your instructions on Holiness, have mercy on me. Help me to commit myself completely to holiness as you make grace available to me in Jesus name.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo