Good day
Since we are working on this passage, I am leaving it
on here for now, but today we are looking at another reason why we need to be
holy.
Philippians 2:12-16:
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only,
but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling; for it is God who works in you both to
will and to do for His good pleasure.
Do all things without complaining and disputing (these
are the things the Lord prompts us to do in order to change), that you may become blameless and harmless, children of
God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom
you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the
word of life...”
We hear so much these
days about the Lord being merciful and in complete control of our lives,
creating the impression that we do not need to do anything apart from enjoying
the Lord and singing praises to Him. If this is true, why would the above and
many similar passages then be emphasized in the Word of God?
The Holy Spirit had
these written in the Word because “without holiness no-one will see the Lord,”
(Hebrews 12:14). This is interestingly enough written in the context of the passage
on God’s discipline (Hebrews 12:4-13). You may decide for yourself whether you
are prepared to submit to the Lord's discipline in order to be set aside for
His plans for your life (becoming holy).
Why would we want to
see the Lord and how would we see Him? This could be viewed from two
perspectives – seeing the Lord one day in heaven and seeing Him whilst we are
on earth. Only you as an individual can answer the question why you want to see
the Lord. I have mentioned the following comparison before in my writings as a
way to understand these things. I once reasoned with the Lord on the subject of
the fairness of rewards to Christians. I told Him that surely Christians who
sacrifice their entire life for His service could not receive the same
privileges in heaven than those who accept Jesus and then live
couch-potato-like, self-indulgent lives. I then saw a vision of old Jerusalem
set amongst the surrounding villages. Inside the walls was the King's palace
with its gardens and in the palace was the courtroom where the King abides.
I was then shown three
passages:
- Mark 16:16: He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he
who does not believe will be condemned.
- John 3:3: Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly,
I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
and in verse five “Most
assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he
cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
- Hebrews 12:14: Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to
be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
I believe the Lord
revealed to me that those who just believe in Jesus, but do not work on a
relationship with Him, will go to heaven, but will live in the New Jerusalem
outside of the King's palace. Those who were born again will see and enter the
Kingdom of God, in other words will enter and live in the palace, but will not
see the Lord; and those who sought holiness and an intimate relationship with
the King of kings will see the Lord and fellowship with Him in His courtroom.
In short, the kind of relationship we have with Him on earth, whether aloof or
intimate, will just continue in heaven. Is this a good motivation to work at
holiness and obedience as per Philippians 2:12-16?
When we grasp
understanding of something, we usually use the expression: “I see”. In such a
situation we do not really see something with our optical eyes, but do so with
our eyes of understanding. This is the other way to see God - by Him revealing
Himself to us. We then see Him with our spiritual eyes – not as a figure, but
as a person in His way of thinking, His personality, His plans and motives, His
character and His will with our lives. Jesus made a profound statement in John
14:21, which I think receives too little attention in the Christian fraternity:
“He who has My commandments and keeps
them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father,
and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Other translations use the words ‘reveal’ and ‘show’ in the place of
the word manifest. In other words Jesus said He will make Himself visible to
our spiritual eyes if we care enough to consider His instructions important
enough to obey – thus setting ourselves aside for Him and being Holy.
We then read in verses
22-23 of John 14: “Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, 'Lord,
how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?' Jesus
answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My
Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.'”
Those living holy lives will be loved even more by Father God and therefore the
relationship will be so intimate, such as in a family environment, that
revelation will be automatic.
Would you like to see the Lord? Then separate yourself
from the flesh and the world and obey Jesus’ instructions.
Lord, I want to be holy.
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