Destined to be Holy

Holiness is clearly out of style. Even at best we as Christian consider it something extra for “super” Christians who are, frankly, out of touch and with no real lives so they decide to be “holy.” Isn’t it enough to be “saved.” It would be nice to be holy, but is it really necessary? It is unpopular to preach about holiness. The preaching of the gospel awakens an intense resentment because it is designed to reveal my unholiness.

Here’s the awful truth: Holiness is the purpose of life. We are not destined to happiness, nor to health, but to holiness. 

Even if we can convince ourselves of the need to be holy, we can’t seem to believe that holiness is really possible. Certainly not in the world we live in. We don’t believe that God can come into me and make me holy? If we will surrender, we will see it can be.

Can we face the ultimate truth: God has only one intended destiny for mankind— holiness. His only goal is to produce saints. God is not some eternal blessing-machine for people to use, and He did not come to save us out of pity— He came to save us because He created us to be holy. Atonement through the Cross of Christ means that God can put me back into perfect oneness with Himself through the death of Jesus Christ, without a trace of anything coming between us any longer.

Can  we ever understand that holiness and joy come from the same fountain and bring the same blessing?

Father, bring us blessing by bringing us your joy by making us holy.

Nick