When holiness is mentioned to the vast majority of people in the cultural
milieu of today the mental images that emerge are cold and
gray. The stereotype of straight laced stern faced individuals populate the
imagination. However, Scripture, and experience both paint a very different
picture. When confronted with his sin, king David asks for a clean heart, with
the hope that his joy would be restored (Psalm 51:10-12). In the days of
Nehemiah, when the people read the Word of God and began to understand their
sin, they were filled with sorrow, but because they turned their hearts from sin
and turned to God, they were told to share good food and celebrate for the joy
of the Lord was their strength (Neh. 8:9-10). In the book of Acts, the disciples
were filled with the Holy Spirit at the same time they were filled with joy
(Acts 13:52). The righteous and upright in heart shall exult and shout for joy
(Psalm 32:11, 64:10). Jesus calls those who are pure in heart blessed (Matthew
5:8). Anyone who has had their heart cleansed from sin by the Holy Spirit knows
the testimony of Scripture to be true. They have found the joy of holiness.Just as false as the joyless face of the “holy roller” is the stereotypical face of those who revel in sin. The person who indulges in sin is often portrayed as fun loving, playful, and having the time of their lives. Many a ruined life, however, matches more closely to the testimony of scripture. Sin kills (Gen 2:17; Rom. 6:23). A sinful lifestyle has unhappy consequences. Sin is a poison that seems sweet (Job 20:12-14), but in reality it crushes us (Psalm 51:8). Those who give themselves to sin may find it pleasurable for a while, but they find themselves in bondage (Prov. 5:22; Heb 11:25). It is a trap to be avoided (Psalm 141:9).
In the end the wicked are cursed, but the righteous are blessed (Prov. 3:33). “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1, NIV)
