“Make every effort to LIVE IN PEACE with everyone and to BE HOLY; WITHOUT HOLINESS NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD. See to it that no one FALLS SHORT of the grace of God and that NO BITTER ROOT GROWS UP to cause trouble and defile many.” (Heb. 12:14-15)
There are some things that will happen in our lives to assure us that we are living holy lives;
- We will be at PEACE with everyone, no matter how we are treated.
- We will have complete CONFIDENCE in the grace of God not falling short of any of its qualities.
- We will not have BITTERNESS which is anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly; or resentment. You see, as long as we are in this world we are subject to unfair treatment and the natural reaction is bitterness but that IS NOT OF GOD because it causes defilement. So, if you find yourself-caught in bitterness, make restitution, go and ask forgiveness so there may be holiness…
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, FOR OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.” (Heb. 12:28-29)
Our God is a consuming fire because there is so much wickedness and ungodliness in this world that must be purged out by fire:
“By the same word the present heavens and earth ARE RESERVED FOR FIRE, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought TO LIVE HOLY AND GODLY LIVES.” (2 Pet. 3:7, 11)
WHEN GOD COMPLETES HIS WORK, EVERY CHRISTIAN WILL BE HOLY AND PURE!!!
-Bill Stockham