Thoughts for another day

June 29, 2012.

Today's verse: 1 Pet. 2:11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Again and again we see in Scripture, men of standing before God like Paul, Peter and others, urging us to refrain from sin and move toward holiness, which is the right thing to do, for  the Bible says, 'Without holiness you cannot see God' Heb. 12:14.  As I keep saying, God's character is Holy and the atmosphere around Him is holy and therefore anything impure or anyone who is impure cannot share the same atmosphere, unless it or he sheds that impurity.  To understand this, we need to look at Moses removing his sandals as instructed by God when near the flaming bush, for God told him that the ground on which he stood was holy.

Where God is, there can be no blotch, for so sublime is His terrain that even a fraction of a speck would be noticed in it and therefore that speck is not allowed there.  Many of us, me included, will not understand the scope of what's written here nor even adhere to the exhortation of the Scripture and its reflection.  But as far as I'm concerned, I know this much that God is awesomely, awesomely Holy and He demands that I be holy so that I may commune with Him and the same is the case with you, for you too are a child of His and therefore called to holiness.  Having said this, it would be right to also say that, He gives us the power and ability to be holy.

The nature of holiness can't be understood by us simply because it's something we're bereft of.  Man possesses no holiness in himself therefore holiness has to be poured into him and the blood of the Lamb of God does that.  In the tide of that flow, you and I are cleansed and made fit to be citizens of the Kingdom.  It then, must be our constant endeavor to remain in a state of holiness as exhorted by Peter above.  We must abstain from all fleshly lusts which are in direct opposition to our souls, which is 'us' and will move into life after this for eternity.  Rather we must strive to be pure and holy in His sight so that when we're called to account, the Blood of the Lamb upon us and our obedience to His commands, will speak out and He then, will welcome us into the kingdom.