Why Does God Want His People To Be Holy?

“The King’s Highway” Once a king had a great highway built for the members of his kingdom. After it was completed, but before it was opened to the public, the king decided to have a contest. He invited as many as desired to participate. Their challenge was to see who could travel the highway the best. On the day of the contest the people came. Some of them had fine chariots; some had fine clothing, fine hairdos, or great food. Some young men came in their track clothes and ran along the highway. People traveled the highway all day, but each one, when he arrived at the end, complained to the king that there was a large pile of rocks and debris left on the road at one spot and this got in their way and hindered their travel. At the end of the day, a lone traveler crossed the finish line warily and walked over to the king. He was tired and dirty, but he addressed the king with great respect and handed him a bag of gold. he explained, “I stopped along the way to clear a pile of rocks and debris that was blocking the road. This bag of gold was under it all. I want you to return it to its rightful owner.” The king replied, “You are the rightful owner.” The traveler replied, “Oh no, this is not mine. I’ve never known such money.” “Oh yes,” said the king, “you’ve earned this gold, for you won my contest. He who travels the road best is he who makes the road smoother for those who will follow.”

WHY GOD WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO BE HOLY. 2 CO. 6:16-7:1

Six leaders of churches were asked what is the world’s most urgent problem and they said “World peace and international understanding.” It was written by one in the newspaper something like this, “We may sweep the world of militarism, we may scrub it white of dictatorship, we may carpet it with democracy, we may hang on the wall pictures of freedom, we may spend all our effort to make the world a paradise and yet if we do not change the heart of man from being deceitful and desperately wicked we can expect the world to be the same after maybe a few days of peace. The Prince of Peace would not prescribe a new opinionated thought or financial scheme but a new heart regenerated and sanctified by the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

We want to give three reasons that show us why God wants us to be a holy people.

1. The times demand we need Holiness.

It is t he church that has the truth that the grace of God goes deeper and has more power to change a man than any analyst. It is holiness of heart, which if believed, experienced and practiced offers to us in one package the peace that we can have that the world with all it has to offer can never give.

We have the problem of law and order. The state only answers with bigger and better law enforcement. It is holiness of heart that that delivers us from the root of lawlessness and rebellion.

Take the matter of divorce. People who are living holy lives don’t quarrel and fight and crush the hearts of those little ones by dividing their house through the courts.

There is the problem we face with misbehavior in youth which lead to or come from poverty, discrimination and lack of education. Billions of dollars are being spent of our taxes to help correct this but are not seeing outstanding results. Money does not create a sound heart. When young people find Jesus the Prince of Peace their hearts are satisfied and they become useful in a great way in this world.

Thos who follow God in holiness learn self discipline. Money is not wasted on Tobacco, Alcohol, gambling or loose living. Those who follow God give their tithes regularly and also give generously in offerings. They honor Sunday as God’s day and are found in the house of worship. They work with honesty, with energy, with diligence and hard work with out greediness. It is holy people who best help the country with prosperity and health in our economy.

Holy people promote public pulling together and strength. You see holy people are fair in their business and pure and trustworthy in their relationships. Holy people do not look down or despise those who are different by race or social position or gender. They want all to be treated fairly.

Holy people encourage peace of mind. They know there is only peace of mind when one knows the Prince of Peace. The mental doctors might help one discover what their problem and offer solutions to find peace but the mental doctors can not rid one of guilt. Only God can forgive sin and put to death the root of sin.