THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS

"Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." (Psalm 29:1, 2).

 

What is it about worshiping the Lord in holiness that is so beautiful, anyway?

 

I have been preparing for a yard sale.  As I've been going through my attic, basement, and garage, I've found that things end up in one of three categories.  One pile is to discard - stuff I no longer need or want, and probably no one else will either.  Another pile is to put in the sale, try to get some money out of it, and end up taking most of it to Goodwill.  The third pile, however, is to keep - stuff that I set apart because I intend to use it.

 

The best definition of holiness that I have ever heard is "set apart."  God has separated us from the world because He intends to use us.  We are HIS people, and the sheep of His pasture.  Not only has He chosen us, but He has purchased us with the life of His own Son.  What an awesome thought!  We are not as the ungodly whom God cannot use and will be one day discarded unless they repent; we are the ones whom God wishes to manifest Himself to the world through.  In Ephesians chapter 1, Paul refers to us (Christ's body) as the "fullness of Him that filleth all in all".  How essential it is for us to keep ourselves always ready and willing for God to use, remembering that it is God Himself, through His Son Jesus Christ, Who works in us the willingness and the ability to be used.

 

One older brother in the Lord explained it like this: he said that when he gets done using a tool from his toolbox, he cleans it off and puts it back where it came from.  This way, every time he needs it, he knows it's ready instantly to be used.  As the Apostle Paul said, "Preach the word; be instant [ready] in season, out of season [or, at all times, and in all circumstances]." (2 Timothy 4:2a).

 

The Bible is full of examples of godly men and women who chose to separate themselves from the world in order to be used of God.  Hebrews 11 tells us that, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." (Hebrew 11:24-26).  Verses 8 through 10 says, "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

 

When God gave Moses the design for the tabernacle, He prescribed that the bowls, cups, and other special vessels that the priests would use in the service of the Lord be made of gold and silver.  This was to put a very high value on those vessels that were set apart for God's use.  They are a picture of us, God's people.  We are of infinite value in His sight.  We have been set apart, we are to be holy unto Him.  This is why God finds our worship beautiful when it is found in true holiness.

 

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the compassions of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your intelligent service.  And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1, 2).

 

"Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.  Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:19-21 NKJV).