He who is holy-let him (her) be holy still
During months of convalescence after a serious car accident, I was seeking to know what it means to be holy. Just recently, this all came back to me..
1Peter 1:15 +16 'But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. Because it is written,"Be holy, for I am holy."
Rev. 22:11 end..He who is holy, let him (her) be holy still. So--holiness is a condition which we must possess prior to the coming of Jesus!
I laugh now, at my attempts to be holy in younger days. I read Mrs Whites instructions,(and hated some of them). I selected what I could cope with like....
Study SS lesson every day+ be able to answer the SS questions on Sabbath
Speak to someone about God
Clean and cook on Friday 'the preparation day'
Shine the car. Iron Sabbath clothing.
So we went to worship with everything 'shining' and feeling very holy
Then we went home and ate our holy vegetarian lunch , went on walks, being holy until sunset.
Then we turned on the TV and watched an unholy movie.
How different was that from the Pharasees? When seated in our 'big' church feeling so composed;we thanked God for all the blessings He had bestowed upon us. He hadn't had much chance of doing that, because we slaved all week to bless ourselves really!
-if anyone we knew was holy, we seemed to recognize their condition, and say," They are so heavenly minded, they are no earthly use." When checking the Thesaurus, under the word Holiness,,then Piety I found--
Goodness -reverence- respect-purity-loyality-confessing-obedient-fear of God-humility-submissive-faith and trust-belief-devotion *here is a good one='muscular Christianity" unworldly....I think Jesus was outlining these qualities within the Beautitudes. What is amazing though. is when you try to discuss this subject with folk who do intend to go to Heaven. If you mention the words perfection of Holiness, even though this state maybe achieved by submission to Christ, they become very defensive. They do not believe God requires this of us. We cling to our 'humaness' as though we really need it!
I love the words in this hymn..No 425-
Holy, Holy, is what the angels sing-and I expect to help them make the courts of Heaven ring;
But when I sing redemption's story, they will fold their wings, For angels NEVER felt the joys that our salvatin brings.