The Pursuit of Holiness
Beloved Christian, May God’s grace, by which He saved us through faith, abound in our lives to such an extent that we, like the saints of old, pursue holiness at any cost. We are called to be ambassadors of truth and representatives of God Himself to a world in need. With this in mind, we must recognize that sin is crouching at our door, intent on destroying the testimony of the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, which has led us to place our faith and trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
With this in mind, we must constantly fix our eyes upon the Lord Jesus Christ. This focus will encourage us to regularly examine our own hearts. We must bring every thought before the Bible, examining it to see whether we are bringing glory to Him or simply elevating our own pride. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can learn to honor the Lord with every blessing He has bestowed upon us, so they do not become a snare to us. Therefore, we must remain vigilant in sanctifying our desires with the Word of God so that we are not drawn toward the lusts of this world.
This is where the true battle begins—a battle for our minds. We must never suppress the conviction of the Holy Spirit that arises within our hearts. As the Holy Spirit brings conviction to us, we must prove them against the Holy Scriptures to ensure that our deceitful hearts have not been led astray. The scriptures are very clear that our hearts are very deceitful, for who can truly know it.
Furthermore we must always remember that the Holy Spirit is continually working to sanctify our thoughts so that we may bring honor to the name Lord Jesus. His mission extends beyond just drawing us to Jesus for salvation, but also sanctifying us to holiness. As children of this great King, we should never want to dishonor Him. The author of Hebrews reminds us that those trained in the discipline of godliness, who yield to the fruit of the Spirit, may experience sorrow for a time, but ultimately, they will reap the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Recognize that walking in harmony with the Bible, while crucifying worldly passions, leads us into sweet communion with Him, free from grieving the Holy Spirit. This relationship brings us to a joyful state where we can find peace in all that we do, knowing that the Father is working through us to shape us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is in these moments, the Holy Spirit fosters within us a deep longing for heaven—the moment when we will see Him who was pierced through for our transgressions.
Oh beloved, imagine the moment when you will spend all eternity with Jesus, apart from all the wickedness we are surrounded by each day. Isaiah prophesied concerning this: “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.” This will be a time when Jesus judges Satan and all the wicked forces of hell, along with those who have followed him.
Concerning this Peter encourages a struggling church during his day: “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”
Therefore, Christian, let us walk in the light of this truth, resisting the temptations of the flesh, with our hearts postured in prayer. With this in mind, “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” By God’s grace, may we not yield for even a moment to the temptations that led our Savior to the bloody cross, where He died in our place.
“Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14 NASBS