Treating Holy Things With Reverence Series

To be holy means to be set apart for God's purpose. It means to be dedicated to Him and His service. In 1 Peter 1:15-16, it says, "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" We are called to be holy because God is holy.

The reason for this is probably both spiritual and physical. Spiritually, the Bible is God’s word and LORD is to be kept pure and unspoiled because He is holy. To allow inside the bathroom or toilet was to allow impurity to exist in the presence of the pure and holy God who is in covenant with His people, whom He desires to be pure and holy. When God is honoured, we always benefit. Since the holy God was among His people, His holiness would not permit Him to dwell in the midst of sin and uncleanness. God must not see anything indecent or nakedness among us anything that was offensive or shameful. Finally, Moses warned in Deuteronomy 23:9-14 if the LORD witnessed this type of impurity, He would turn away from you because these are impure places and are abodes of the devils. This is forbidden in the bathroom, and in the bathhouse, and in a filthy place and this is in a place in which there is uncleanliness.

The Importance of Distinction:

So why is it important to distinguish between holy and unclean? Because God is holy, and He wants us to be holy too. When we are holy, we can approach God with confidence and worship Him without fear. But when we are unclean, we need to confess our sins and seek forgiveness before we can approach Him.

The Meaning of Unclean:

To be unclean, on the other hand, means to be contaminated by sin or impurities. It means to be separated from God's presence. In Isaiah 59:2, it says, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you." Sin makes us unclean and separates us from God.

The Danger of Unclean Places:

In Leviticus 10:10-11, God instructs the priests to distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean. This instruction is not just about physical cleanliness, but also spiritual. You see, unclean places can attract unclean spirits. In Matthew 10:1, Jesus gives His disciples authority to drive out unclean spirits. But if we bring holy things into unclean places, we can inadvertently invite those unclean spirits to attach themselves to us.

Leviticus 10:1-3:

Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, offered unauthorized fire to God, resulting in their death. This passage teaches us that God demands reverence and respect for holy things. We must approach Him with humility and obedience.

The Bathroom: A Place of Unclean Spirits?

The bathroom is a place where we deal with bodily waste and uncleanness. It's not a place where we typically think of spiritual things. In fact, some spiritual traditions believe that the bathroom is a place where demons and evil spirits reside. If we keep our Bibles or other holy objects in the bathroom, we may be unknowingly exposing them to unclean influences.

King Saul (1 Samuel 13:8-14): Saul offered a sacrifice to God but did so in a way that was unauthorized and disobedient. As a result, God rejected him as king.

The Sons of Eli (1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25): These priests treated the offerings to God with contempt, taking the best parts for themselves. God judged them for their sin.

2 Timothy 2:21:

Paul writes, "If anyone cleanses himself from what is ignoble, he will be an instrument for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." This verse emphasizes the importance of separating ourselves from the mundane and dedicating ourselves to God's purposes.

Satan is very clever at disguising himself and at deceiving us into believing what appears as truth, is in fact error. See Isa 5:20, "Woe to you that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness.

“Hebrews 12:28-29:

We are called to worship God with reverence and awe, for He is a consuming fire. This passage reminds us that our worship and treatment of holy things should reflect the majesty and holiness of God.

Keep Holy Things in Holy Places:

keep our Bibles and other spiritual resources in a clean and holy environment, away from unclean influences.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness

of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth."

Rom 1:18

The Blasphemous King (2 Kings 18:19-37, 2 Chronicles 32:9-19): King Sennacherib of Assyria blasphemed God, saying He was no different from the idols of other nations. God sent an angel to destroy his army. 6. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11): This couple lied to the Holy Spirit about their offering, and as a result, they were struck down dead.