Ambrose. J. Chakre
Something we must be grateful for is the thing which is given unto us that we might be what He is. It is not an accomplishment which we have to be accredited with but it’s a blessing we have to be contented with. It is not gained by the virtue of what we are but it is given unto us by the virtue of what he did. The very word itself is as beautiful as the meaning behind it. Whenever I hear the word holiness, I am reminded of something pleasant which gives us joy. The thing which makes a man holy is not in the character of the person but it is through the virtue which God has given. Holiness is accredited only to those who are pure in heart. It is manifested through the pursuance of righteousness.
The very words of Thomas Chalmers which read “ The beauty of holiness has done more and will do more, to regenerate the world and bring in ever lasting, righteousness than all the other agencies put together had an impact on me. To describe the beauty of holiness is way beyond human understanding. Then essence of it will be revealed only when we see the righteous one on the throne. However the beauty of it can be seen in us when the presence of the blessed One is in us. We were by nature fallen creatures because of what our ancestors were but we are now spiritual beings because of what Christ did for us. This is further complimented by the words of I. Lilias Trotter which says holiness means something more than sweeping away of the old leaves of sin. It means the life of Jesus developed in us.
When we compare this with the biblical context we find that the very words are in harmony with the Word of life. It becomes part of us with the indwellence of the righteous One in us. Jonathan Edward said “Holiness appeared to me to be of a sweet, pleasant, charming, serene, calm nature; which bought an inexpressible purity, brightness, perfectness, and ravishment to the soul. In other words, that it made the soul like a field or garden of God with all the manner of pleasant flowers. His words are a delight to many because his words stirred the hearts of many to the way of salvation. His words were effective because the life he lived was in harmony with the words he spoke.
The beauty of it can be seen in the person who loves God. And the presence of it can be felt in the lives of the persons who fears God. The Word makes it clear that without holiness noone will be able to see God. Our unrighteousness was what created a barrier between us and God. And our iniquities was what separated us from Him. And for righteousness to be manifested unto us, the righteous One had to be sacrificed for our sakes. It is by the virtue of what He did that we are now alive in His righteousness. It will only be through righteousness that we will be made holy. This has been made possible for us that we may be what the Father is. It is a gift given by grace and it is a virtue bestowed with love.
It is gained through purity. Righteousness was manifested unto us to undo the filthiness’ in us. We had to be made holy to be able to see God and thus we were made holy that we might see God. This is further evidenced in the beatitudes which states “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Something we see in this is the beauty of it. It is something which makes our life worth living because of the happiness it brings. It’s not something we have to brag about but its something we have to be grateful for. To be made holy, to be considered righteous are all the gift of grace. It is by the virtue of it that we will one day be accredited for it not because we deserve but because of what we are in the Lord. It is something which is given unto us through the gift of salvation. The gift of holiness is a gift given unto us that we may become His. And we as the Church of Christ awaits the coming of the Lord, we have to let the hunger for righteousness be evidenced in us that we may one day be with the one who is Holy.
