In Hot Pursuit of Holiness - The Call of Hebrews 12:14

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Well hey, a big old hello to you today. So glad you’re listening to the show today, and I hope … well, more than hope, I’ve actually prayed that you will be blessed and encouraged and shored up and bolstered in your faith as a result of this episode. God has so much in store for His people, and as we study His word, the Bible, and literally take Him at His word, we will find ourselves in our sweet spot. Not just saying that, I believe it. Every day, I believe it. The older I get, the more I believe it. Jesus said in John 14:6 that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The same Lord, the Way, the Truth & the Life, is going to keep His every promise. I know the One in whom I have trusted. He is good, He is faithful, He is powerful, and He is holy.

You’re listening to The Burt (Not Ernie) Show podcast, part of the Spark Network, playing now via the Edifi app. This is episode number 140.

Holiness.

Boy, I feel like I have said this so many times the last few weeks. Holiness matters.

Like, a lot. A lot, lot.

God called us to holiness, so we need to pursue that to which we have been called. Because the One who did the calling, He is the One who answered the call to go to the Cross in our place. I don’t want my life to be so focused on this life and the things of this world that I totally miss out on heeding God’s call to live a holy life. And hey, I cannot do that on my own. I have no ability to be holy in Jan’s own strength. Nope. I gotta depend completely on the Holy Spirit to work out holiness in me. So that ends up being my sweet spot to live out my life. Anything that draws me to the Lord and keeps me right there up close and personal with Him, I’ve grown to see that as a tremendous gift. Keeps me close to Jesus? Alright! I like that!

The call to holiness and my own in the flesh inability to answer the call to holiness puts me in a position to stay ultra close to the Lord so that He can work out His call to holiness in my life. It’s totally a win-win.

There is a verse in the New Testament book of Hebrews, and I’m going to read it from the King James Version today. It’s a powerful verse.

Hebrews 12:14 - Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

I’d also like to share it with you from the New Living Translation.

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

Here on TBNES I often mention that little word WILL.

It’s important to note that when a verse states that something will or will not happen, God really does mean will or will not. Will means will. All means all.

It’s crazy encouraging to remember that one simple truth when we find a promise in God’s Word. It fuels belief. Literally, fans it into flame. Sets our hearts ablaze within us.

And when God says will not? That should also set something ablaze in us.

A conviction to do, or not do, whatever God is instructing.

Disobedient children. Ever been around one? Ever been one yourself? When you find yourself surrounded by a pack of disobedient children, you become fully aware that nobody else is in charge, because once parents have abdicated their God ordained parental role, things get wild. Backwards. Out of sorts and out of control. All sorts of messed up. It’s not God’s order, and we know that He is a God or order, not of disorder or chaos. See 1 Corinthians 14:33 to read that verse in its entirety.

Disobedient children are unruly, living in a state of chaos.

It comes with the territory. If the shoe fits, and all that, right?

God is not one to parent us in a manner that has ever or will ever warrant our unruly disobedience. Period. If we disobey, it’s on us, not Him. He is, of course, the perfect Father. No way around that fact. Our unruly behavior is not His fault. It just isn’t.

If this verse from Hebrews is what He wants from us, and we don’t even try to obey, then we are, by definition, disobedient.

Work at living in peace with everyone (okay…everyone…okay, Lord…because You say so, I’m gonna get after this and trust You to help me where I need helping!) and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

Work at this, my friend! Put in some effort. That’s what work is. Work has an actual definition, and we understand that as it relates to the place we go five days a week in exchange for a paycheck, health benefits, retirement plan, etc. We know what work is. We know what it means to work. We just don’t act like that word means what it means when it comes to our own personal walk with Jesus.

Am I stepping on any toes today? Hey, I’m probably stomping on your entire foot with this episode. Mashing all your buttons. Bringing up all kinds of emotions. But that is what God’s Word does at times. If you and I are never startled and kind of awakened from our slumber in some area of our life, we may not be allowing the Bible to penetrate our hearts.

If we can go to workday after day for our earthly provision, if we recognize and act on the importance of work as it pertains to this temporary life, why don’t work hard spiritually speaking, when it impacts eternal life? Not a works-based salvation, that is not a thing per the Bible. Jesus paid it all, and I want to be totally clear about this. I’m not ever going to advocate a works-based salvation. It’s 100% Him, I did nothing to earn my salvation or attain it. But after my salvation, I am responsible to spend time investing in my relationship with my Savior. And one way I do that is by reading, and believing, the Word of God. And in the Bible, here in Hebrews 12, I am flat out told to work at living a holy life. I am not given a pass to dishonor Jesus by my blatant, sinful, outrageously not-Christlike behaviors. Holy living is what I am called to, and that call does not in any way, shape or form negate that my salvation was obtained completely by Jesus at Calvary. The two don’t fight against each other. It’s about maturing in the Lord. Living a holy life matters because God said it does. In fact, He says that those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

This is so serious!

Will not.

God is not playing here.

We must follow holiness, as the KJV says.

Follow it. Get after it. Don’t let it be far off in the distance. Keep close to it.

Let’s view holiness properly, and no longer make excuses within the church or in our own lives for a lack of a holy pursuit. Can we all agree that in light of the Word of God, and in light of what Jesus did for us on the Cross, that holiness is important?

Follow peace. Keep pace with it. That’s a simple way to say live right, live holy. Don’t be lagging in this area. You can’t be a person of peace for other people, on their behalf, in their stead. But as far as it depends on you, be a man or woman of peace. Work at it, says the NLT. That sounds like effort.

Peace and holy living matter to the Lord. So, they both need to matter to His children.

Do we A) understand holiness and do we B) value holiness?

Our lives will reveal the answer to both questions. No need to try and hide it, this isn’t a test we can cheat on. Our lives provide the answer. It’s clear, like it or not.

If you are in hot pursuit of something, you are following it, right? If we do not value something, we are not going to pursue it, and certainly not with any fervor. Hot pursuit does not describe the lukewarm believer. People in pursuit of something are going after it to obtain it, to overtake it, to accomplish the end goal.

Let’s be like that - driving on the Highway of Holiness like it's the Autobahn and we’re in a Bugatti or a McLaren or an Aston Martin or a Gordan Murray. James Bond this thing, ya know?

Wear the tread off the tires. That kind of fervency!

Holiness. I think the Church and the world need a whole lot more of it.

A bit shorter episode today, but it gives you a few spare minutes to pause and pray and talk to the Lord about your current biggest, most looming needs and to listen for His reply, His guidance and wisdom and hope and His help.

And next time, in episode 141, we’re gonna dig into God’s promises and grab hold of hope. Kind of hope-dealer over here, that’s my goal. Keep living all in for Jesus, because I tell you what, on that day when you meet Him face to face, you will not regret for one millisecond that choice.

Lord bless you, see ya next time.

Bye bye