Dec 19

What is the relation between holiness and being able to stand unshaken in the world-shaking events of the last days? We know from Scripture that we have no holiness of our own and cannot produce any holiness within ourselves by our own efforts. The holiness that Scripture calls upon us to display in our lives comes from God himself, from our union with Christ. When we come to faith in Christ, we become one with him and his holiness is imparted to us.

Who will be able to stand in the last days? Only he who is united in holiness with Christ.

Psalm 15 asks the question, "Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?" It then goes on to list the attributes required of such a person, which are the ways of righteousness. In Psalm 24:4 affirms that it is the person whose life is filled with the ways of holiness that is able to come before God, "he who has clean hands and a pure heart."

All such holiness comes not from ourselves but from the One who makes us holy by his blood shed on the cross for us.

It is interesting to note the way these truths are expressed in these two psalms. For Psalm 15 asks not "Who may go to heaven?" but "Who may live on your holy hill?" This reminds us of the previous discussion here about God choosing Mt. Zion as his mountain of abode -- and the holy people may live there with him. These are they who stood by him all through the death throes of the world, as it was shaken -- and now he will stand by them and not allow that final shaking to affect them. Their holy living in Christ has preserved them.

"He who does these things will never be shaken" (v. 5).

Scripture for today: Psalm 15
Thought for today: The holiness of Christ in my life will preserve me in God's shaking of the earth.
Prayer for today: Thank you, Father, for seeing the righteousness and holiness of your Son Jesus in me. Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross to give this to me. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for continuing to uphold me in your holiness.

DEC 19