"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" Heb. 12:14
Often in our Christian walk we speak of living a godly and holy life. We point to scriptures such as the verse above and say that it is a must in our journey from sinner to saint. This is all true. God demands that "we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." (Titus 2:12) Yet, there is far more to this command than just the personal benefits of a godly lifestyle; it reaches into the very son-ship message of the Lord Jesus Christ. As the children of God we are given the blessed and glorious opportunity to show forth the righteousness of Jesus Christ to the world. This is indeed the mystery of Godliness: "God was manifest in the flesh." (I Tim. 3:16) We are literally "declared to be the epistle of Christ . . . known and read of all men" (II Cor. 3:3, 2) shining our lights into this dark world so that others might see and glorify God. [Matt. 5:16]
As the sons of God, we are the express image of him who hath begotten us. We are his flesh and his bone walking about to do his will; doing nothing of ourselves, but only what we see the father do. As John, so inspired of God, wrote: "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." (John 1:18) If we are not clothed with Christ – displaying holiness and righteousness in our daily lives – we cannot declare God to anyone. For as our text reveals without holiness "no man shall see the Lord." If they look upon us and view worldly actions and attire then we are not declaring Jesus, but rather we are showing the love of the world. We are instructed to "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (I John 2:15)
As in our text for today, Paul is writing concerning the life of those that follow Christ. His words are sharp and true; his message clear and simple. Because we are the sons of God and we have this treasure in earthen vessels, we show forth the God that we serve. For verily, "neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." (Matt. 11:27) It is our duty as his children to reveal him to the world. How can we reveal him if we do not profess him? If, in our lives and actions we walk after the flesh and not the spirit, we deny him. For as it is written, "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." Therefore we are commanded that "Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy." (Lev. 19:2) |
