Keeping holiness intact

Keeping holiness intact

Job 27:6 “My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.” 

Holiness is something that the LORD does in the heart of his saints. It is the greatest treasure a believer in Christ can ever possess: holiness of heart and life. Satan, the enemy of Christ, adversary of the church, and accuser of the brethren is not happy when a believer is made holy, and is progressing in holiness.

He therefore tries in all means to make sure believers lose the experience of holiness, thereby open to the attack and affliction of the wicked. The LORD is telling us to hold fast what we’ve got, and conserve the experience of holiness and sanctification; for our adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

The devil comes in different way to take holiness away from believers. He came to our first parents (Adam and Eve), lied to them about the forbidden fruit, and persuaded them to eat of it, with which he took fellowship with God, and eternal life from them.

He presented to David the desire of the flesh, and through that made David sin against God. He beguiled Samson to promiscuity, and through that, Samson a great judge of Israel was defeated by the Philistines (the great enemy of Israel). He presented to Achan the gain of materialism, but ended his life in shame and humiliation.

Satan is on the relentless fight to make sure that holiness is not practical in the lives of believers. He knows that holiness is a sort of power in believers, and that when holy saints pray, Satan trembles, demons flee, and the gates of hell is shaken. And because of that, he’s scared and never wants to see a holy saint.

Satan may also use subtle means to take holiness from you. He comes through your friends, or through members of the church, and they begin to tell you, “This your holiness is too much. Since you gave your life to Christ can you tell me you’ve never sinned? Don’t be over righteous, we will all get to heaven.” Your response to them might, What kind of question is this? Then they’ll say, “you know, I’m just thinking if holiness is really possible.” 

If you are not convinced in what you believe, you might start disposing perfidiousness to your commitment to holiness, and gradually extinct holiness. But thank God, we are not ignorant of the devices of the devil. By the grace of God, some saints of old were able to overcome, kept their holiness, and delivered themselves from the wrath to come. We too can by God’s grace overcome.

Satan presented to Joseph fleshy pleasure and satisfaction, and the wanton woman was willing to offer all. But Joseph remembered that her house is the way to hell, and didn’t parley with the exigency, but fled, and he overcame. Daniel purposed in his heart to be holy, despite the idolatry, promiscuity, and evil in Babylon, he kept himself and he overcame. Enoch walked with God, and despite the corruption and degeneracy of that antediluvian age, he was holy; he overcame, and God took him.

We can overcome! The grace of God is sufficient for us, and the help of the Holy Spirit is our succour. Therefore, let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Finally, we shall be holy every day by day. May the LORD give us the grace to work out our salvation, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Also Read: 8 Prayer scriptures for loved ones who hate the Gospel of Christ