Pursuing Holiness

I begin with a simple statement, a simple word. The pursuit of God is the pursuit of holiness. Let me explain. God is not tempted by sin and can never be found in sin. He’s not there and will never be there, in sin.

For example, if sin is to the left of us, and God is to the right of us (we stand in the middle). Turning left would take you away from God in every case. Pursuing sin can never be the pursuit of God because they are not in the same place. It’s like going the wrong way.

God is not in that sin that so easily entangles us. He’s not there, and if we persist in pursuing that sin, we have been deceived and are no longer pursuing God. We are going the wrong way. Knowingly or unknowingly walking away from God. The pursuit of God is always the pursuit of holiness.

The Apostle John links this right and left, right and wrong issue to deception. The sinner doesn’t know he’s walking away from God and into the darkness of death and destruction. That’s why it’s called deception.

1 John 3:7 (NLT)

Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.

John links this sin to deception (don’t let anyone deceive you about this). And what happens when this deception is left unchecked by the truth?

1 John 3:8-10 (NLT)

But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 9  Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 10  So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

Children of God…they pursue holiness. Children of the devil…they pursue sin, which is unholiness. And we all stand in the middle with this truth today. The pursuit of God is the pursuit of holiness. Do not be deceived!

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NLT)

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen,

Terry Cooper

Lead Minister