Happy Holiness

Can people that live holy be happy? Do those two words even belong in the same sentence? Some may say no, but I want to say Absolutely! We were created to live in a sinless garden of pleasure with face to face communion with the living God who is perfectly glorious, beautiful, just, holy and loving. (Genesis 1-2) It was because of the serpent's deception and man's SIN that God kicked man out of the garden, but he immediately promised that he would crush the head of the serpent that tempted his people to disobey him (Genesis 3). And ever since God kicked Adam and Eve out of the garden he has been RELENTLESSLY pursuing us to show us how much he loves us and wants to be with us! He told Moses to make the tabernacle so he could dwell among his people without killing them (Exodus 30-40).

But that wasn't close enough for God. He wanted to dwell among us. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, ESV) But even that wasn't even close enough. He had to come down and dwell inside of us, which is what happened for the first time for all believers on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and is what happens whenever someone decides to put their faith in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). This God is amazing! He is so holy and set apart that the four living creatures never stop crying “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”” (Revelation 4:8, ESV) And yet he came down as a baby, died on the cross a criminals death (Philippians 2:6-11) was risen again from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:4-5) and then sent his Spirit to dwell in man. This God is good and loving and wants to be close to us!!! And he gave his own Son, and the Son gave his own life for us!!! Thank you God for all that you've done to bring us into intimacy with you yet again!!!

Look at this amazing passage: “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:6–11, ESV)

Paul says that we rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ!!! That's means there is joy in the gospel and joy in salvation through Christ! Look at this amazing verse written by David: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, ESV) In God's presence there is fullness of joy!!! So why are so many people not elated like Paul and David because of God and being in his presence? Well for me, it because of my lack of revelation of how great God truly is. That leads me to look to sin for my pleasure, which leads to condemnation, which causes me to run away from God and try to somehow "hide" from his presence until I can make myself look clean again. But the great news of the gospel is that through simple faith in Christ that produces repentance, I am made completely holy by the work that he did on the cross!!! (Romans 3:24-25) That is such good news! “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!!!” (Romans 8:1, ESV) Praise God!!!

That means that through simple faith and repentance I can be made right in my relationship with God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, ESV) Man this is good news! Now I want to go completely hard for God because I am free from the power of sin!!! But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1–2, ESV) If I mess up Jesus is still advocating for me before the Father! That is amazing!!!

So what is so good about being holy anyways? Holy and godly living is our joyful response to all that God has done for us. It is for the sake of relationship with Jesus Christ himself that we live holy and righteous, JOYFULLY obeying God's commandments. Everything I do that is not in God's will, no matter how momentarily pleasurable will ultimately end in DEATH (Romans 6:21), but when I am a slave to God everything I do out of obedience to God leads to Eternal Life!!! There is nothing but Eternal joy in obeying God's commands! (Romans 6:22-23) “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.” (Psalm 119:92–93, ESV)

I just want you to read this, because it such rich scripture: “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” (Psalm 119:97–104, ESV)

Oh to be clean and pure and spotless! It is such a joy to be free from guilt, shame and condemnation! Oh to experience the pleasure of God not only in my identity as His Son but in every move, in every step, in every decision that I take. Oh to make that man happy! It is becoming the chief desire of my heart to live a life that puts a bigger smile on the face of Christ through love and obedience. Can you imagine what a joy that is going to be the day we stand there face to face with the man like eyes of fire (Rev. 1:14) and hear him say "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:21). Oh what a joy that is going to be for both of us!!! And then we'll experience the greatest joy of all time as we get to dwell face to face with God forever. FOREVER!!! That means it never ends!!! The eternal unending bliss of getting to be with God is going to be amazing!!! And we get to experience a little bit of that now, as we cry with Jesus, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10, ESV).

Father, thank you so much for the gift of unbroken fellowship with you through the price that your Son paid on the cross. Jesus thank you so much for your goodness and your love towards us, that your commandments are not burdensome, but lead us to life. Jesus I pray for me and everyone reading this, and everyone in your body that you would give us fresh passion and vision for wholeheartedly loving you and obeying you. God make it our delight to meditate on your word day and night, that we would bear fruit for your glory oh God! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Here is an awesome podcast from some friends of mine that I've been listening to that will surely blow your mind!!! http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/circuit-riders/id449476756