"Holiness" - The Means to Relationship with God

The concept of holiness as portrayed in the scriptures acts in tandem with the concept of separation. According to the scriptures, we are to be separated from the world so that we can be holy unto God. Leviticus 20:26 says, "And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine." God's reason and purpose for separating the Hebrew nation from their world was simply that they should be His; holy unto Him.

Note what is the purpose behind the Nazarite vow as stated in Numbers 6:8, "All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD." Those who were to take upon themselves the vow of the Nazarite, such as Samson the judge and Samuel the prophet, were to separate themselves from several things. For instance, a Nazarite could touch no dead thing, could not even bury his own family, could not cut his hair, could not eat nor drink of anything that grew on the vine, could not use vinegar, along with other criteria. Why did God set those laws for the Nazarite? The purpose was to be holy unto the Lord. Holiness is consecration; it's dedication; it's sanctity; it's devotion. Although it must be needful to turn away from many things, all of those ideas in actuality point toward something greater, that is, a relationship with the Lord.

Why would God give mankind the opportunity to take on this vow of the Nazarite? By doing thusly, He opened the door to whosoever would desire a relationship with Him to do so. He presented them the opportunity, the means, and the benefits. Why? He desired relationship. Isn't that the underlying theme of the entire Bible? Isn't that why God created man? Isn't that why God called Abram out from Ur? Isn't that why God chose David to rule his people? Isn't that why God gave us the Song of Solomon? Isn't that why God reached for so long for a nation who played the harlot? Isn't that why, ultimately, He robed himself in human flesh, taught, and performed miracles, all just to suffer rejection, be beaten until His visage was marred more than any other, receive a crown of thorns to his head and spikes to his hands and feet, and die on a rugged tree? That, friend, is precisely why. Relationship is what drove our Saviour to Golgotha. Relationship is what refrained Him from calling for legions of angels to come to His rescue. Relationship is why He arose the third day. Relationship is why He poured out His Spirit of whom we are recipients.

Seeing the great God of the universe in that light should cause us all to stop and self-assess. Am I fulfilling the dream of my Saviour by my godly lifestyle and my prayer life and my consistency in studying His Word and adhering to His perfect law of liberty? Or am I treading under foot the Son of God by ignoring His call to devotion or by rejecting his precepts and seeking instead to satisfy my own lusts? Paul said in Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

I propose that we search our hearts and ask God to search our hearts thoroughly. I do not want to squander my allotted time on earth on my own selfish whims and desires. I do not want to pass up such a rich opportunity to actually become a friend to the wonderful and holy Creator of the Universe. Abraham didn't miss it and I don't intend on missing it either.

Yours in Christ,
Jarron