subject: What Does Holiness Look Like? [print this page] Do you know what holiness looks like? Is it wearing long skirts and no makeup? No! Holiness is not so much about our outer appearance but about the way we think. Hebrews 12:14 says that without holiness no one will see the Lord; therefore, it is a subject worthy of examination. We must be sure we are walking in holiness, particularly as we prepare ourselves for the return of Jesus Christ. He is calling His people to be holy.
Holiness is being of one mind with God. In other words, whatever He thinks is wrong, you think is wrong. Whatever He declares is right, you declare is right. Holiness is a way of thinking that lines up with the Word of God. Therefore, a person who is walking in holiness is thinking, talking, and acting just like God.
When we are living holy lives, it can be seen and discerned by those around us. There is a standard that dictates our thoughts, words, and actions. Because it is an internal spiritual condition, it manifests on the outside. The presence of God rests on Christians who are holy, and brings conviction to those who are in sin. For example, have you ever been around someone with whom you would feel uncomfortable saying or doing something because you know it will displease God? Holiness sets us apart from the world and is what causes us to be a witness for Christ.
First Thessalonians 4:7 says, "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." Uncleanness involves the pollution of the world and everything in it. Every day we are bombarded with words, images, and suggestions from the enemy, enticing us to sin. Sometimes we can become so steeped in the world's ideals that we don't realize when we have become spiritually unclean. We may compromise in certain areas of our lives or engage in things that displease God. These signs indicate that our thinking has become influenced by the world. When we find this happening, it is time to take a step back and recommit ourselves to a lifestyle of holiness.
Second Corinthians 7:1 says we perfect holiness when the fear of the Lord is on our lives. Fearing God means having a reverence and respect for Him to the point where our lives are completely devoted to Him and we shun the works of the flesh at all costs. Every day we must make the choice to be holy and align our thoughts with the Word. We can develop a lifestyle of holiness by allowing the Bible to be our final authority in life and renewing our minds daily with the Scriptures by meditating on them.
If you are still wondering what holiness looks like, consider Jesus, Who is our example. He was obedient to the Father at every turn. In the Garden of Gethsemane, before His crucifixion, He was faced with two choices: following through on His assignment to redeem the world through a brutal death on the cross, or giving in to his fleshly, human nature that wanted to avoid the hard road that lay ahead (Mark 14:32-42). Fortunately, Jesus chose the way of holiness, which was to fulfill the whole will of the Father. Even when tempted to give up, He allowed His mind, will, and emotions to become aligned with the Father's thoughts and desires. As a result, humanity now has the opportunity to be reconciled back to God.
Every day we will have to make the decision to live a life of holiness. The choice is ours. What does holiness look like? It looks like the fruit of the Spirit, purity, and a renewed mind that is ready to do the will of the Father. When we find ourselves walking in obedience to God's Word, holiness will be an undeniable result, and we will be able to make a mark on this world that can never be erased.
