Take time to be Holy?
That is a tough charge in the society in which we live. We are constantly driven to do this and that. Productivity is good but for what end (Ecclesiastes 2:4-11)? But our very being we are to offer as a sacrifice to the Living God (Romans 12:1-2). For we are even a Holy Priesthood, chosen by God to offer up spiritual sacrifices, which are acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-5).
We are taught to take time to be Holy. God says “Be ye Holy, for I am Holy” (Leviticus 20:7, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Leviticus 11:44-45). If commanded by God, this cannot be an impossible feat. For man himself it is certainly and most indubitably impossible. But with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26, Mark 9:23).
Certainly, we cannot expect to be Holy without allotting time for it. Every pursuit requires effort, yielding to God is our task, which we, by the prompting and continued influence of the Holy Spirit are lead to do.
For man does not only live by food, but he lives by the very word that precedes from the mouth of the LORD (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4).
That is why we may Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness, and we Shall Be Filled (Matthew 5:6)!
If we hunger and thirst, we shall seek and find (Proverbs 8:17, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9), then we shall be filled. When we are filled with righteousness are we not Holy?
In Psalms 1:1-6 we see that “the righteous” has “his delight in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
When we are able we should “seek the Lord while he may be found“, and “call upon him while he is near” (see Isaiah 55:6-7). We do not know when our opportunity to call upon the Lord may be taken from us, if we wait it may be to late. For we know not when our time on earth will end, and we must seek the Lord while we are able lest our heart be hardened. Lest we are hardened by pride, such as happened to king Nebuchadnezzar, until he learned the lesson that “the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will” (Daniel 5:18-22).
In Proverbs 1:24-31 we see the reward (not a reward for good) of those who hate knowledge and did not fear the Lord. They did not listen to reproof, but despised it, they refused to listen and had no regard. When calamity and fear comes upon them they will “eat the fruit of their own way.” It will be too late to repent. “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.”
In Matthew 25:1-13 we see how the five wise virgins were prepared and the five foolish virgins were unprepared. And for the foolish it was to late. For the door was shut and the foolish virgins said “Lord, Lord, open to us.” “But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” So we must always be ready for we know not when Christ shall come again. If we wait until he comes to prepare, it will be too late.
“Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.” - Proverbs 28:14
See the Hymn "Take time To Be Holy"