The Pursuit of Holiness | Hebrews 12

When I think this way, I’m caught in an old trap. I’m attempting holiness in my own strength. And it is impossible! It’s also a form of legalism.

“Legalism is a matter of the heart, (legalism is) not obedience to God and radical love for others. Legalism is when we’re trying to earn God’s favor to be saved, not when we’re following Jesus because we’re saved by grace.”
 –John Piper[1]

Legalism places us back on Mt. Sinai. The stormy mountain is ablaze. The ground quakes. God’s voice booms like thunder. “Please don’t speak!” we beg, trembling. “Who can stand before you?” In our own strength, we try. We offer endless sacrifices. But nothing removes the stain of guilt and shame. On Sinai, we’re doomed to wrath and judgment.

Because apart from Christ, we cannot be good enough, pure enough. We’re stuck on Sinai. We need a savior. At the cross, we trade our mess for Christ’s righteousness. He empowers us to pursue holiness. Yes, we still fall, mess up, sin. But when we do, God’s not waiting with thunder and lightning. He’s waiting with arms open wide. (Remember the prodigal.)

Pursuing holiness takes effort! Making time to read his Word and understand his precepts. Developing a habit of prayer. Gathering with other believers and learning to pursue holiness together. Choosing to sow peace rather than strife. Forgiving before bitterness takes root. And running from immorality.[2]

Though it takes effort, pursuing holiness is not scaling One World Trade Center. Instead, we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to lift us there. It’s riding the elevator to the skyscraper’s observation deck. Our jaws drop at the view. Our vision expanded by eyes, heart, and a spirit made new.

Photo Credit: 
1) By Kai Brinker from Brooklyn, United States – One World Trade Center, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40695171
2)  By Spencer Platt, Getty Images, View from One World Trade Center — nf-wtc-nyc-0402 

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