God’s Standards of Holiness Never Fail
Do God’s standards of holiness seem impossible to attain? If they do, then Satan blinded you to the truth. He convinced you that he’s more powerful than God, the Creator of all things.
I grew up in the 50s when people honored God much more than they do now. My mother would hand me money to go to the local corner store (1/2 mile away) to buy milk. Today, parents would never do that. Our family grew up in an environment where we felt safe. Since then, people have taken paths in direct opposition to God’s ways because they have lowered their standards. Many don’t even ask themselves, “What are God’s standards?”
For instance, in two separate Supreme Court cases in 1962 and 1963, the judges ruled that “school-sponsored prayer and Bible readings” were unconstitutional. Roe vs. Wade made it legal in 1973 for a woman to have an abortion without restrictions placed on her by the government (thankfully that law was overturned in 2022). As of 2020, over 1.5 billion babies have been aborted worldwide. Additionally, same-sex marriages were legalized in all 50 states in the U.S. in June 2015.
These shifts happened because people lowered their standards and used the court system to create laws that legalized their ideas. As predicted by Isaiah, the world is on a steady path toward lawlessness because they don’t accept God’s standards of holy living. They look at God’s standards vs world standards and don’t choose God.
Isaiah 5:20 (NLT)
What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
God’s Standards of Holiness: Why People Don’t Want Them
The Bible has answers as to why people behave as they do and fail to meet God’s standards of holiness.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 ( MSG)
Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.
Have you noticed the world apart from God is on a downward slide? And what unbelievers do affects you as a Christian. You’ve probably noticed you face more opposition when you choose God’s standards of holiness for yourself. The reason? His laws are written on your heart and they’re in direct opposition to the world’s standards. You may be singled out for living a holy life. As the world gets darker, Christians shine brighter.
How do you prepare yourself for what’s next because the Bible predicts things will get worse, not better?
God’s Standards Of Holiness: Ways To Stay Connected
Practice holiness: I Peter 3:10-12 – Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
Keep praying: If you don’t pray regularly, how will you get to know God personally and know when He speaks? Prayer connects you to God through the Holy Spirit. During times of crisis, you don’t want to flounder and ask, “Was that you Lord, me, or the devil?” The same concern to stay safe is on everyone’s mind whether a Christian or not. It’s nearly mandatory for Christians to hear from God, walk with Him in the spirit, and not let the flesh lead. Be alert to modifications God wants you to make. He may tell you to take EVERY thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) and give you other, specific instructions. He does this to teach you how to live in this dark world and not be led astray.
Spread the Gospel Message: God loves people more than anything else. He prolongs time so people have a chance to accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord. While Christians wait for God to end this thing, He expects us to preach the Gospel to all the nations, and then the end will come. It’s vitally important to walk in the calling God destined you for. You could be the very person God uses to open up the eyes of someone blinded by Satan to avoid eternal destruction in hell.
Know the last-day signs: It’s obvious worldly people don’t want God and depart from His presence. They prefer money, themselves, pleasures, and passions over God. How many of you reading this hear God saying “Get ready?” If you study Bible prophecy, it’s clear that current events line up as predicted.
Focus on God’s truth: We live in an if-it-feels-good-do-it world. Christians can become distracted by things vying for their attention. Remember this: you’ll never go wrong by following scripture and keeping it hidden in your heart. Believers must live the Word when living in fearful times by staying in God’s Word and presence. I wrote, “God On the Back Pew“, a collection of Christian living faith stories where people cry out to God for help and meet with Him because living the world’s standards get them into trouble.
Watch out for others: As a watchman, you aren’t guarding goods but people. You stay alert not only for yourself but for others. You pray, stay committed to the task, know the enemy’s tactics, look for ways to provide for people’s needs, and build God’s kingdom until Jesus returns.
God’s Standards of Holiness: Anchor Scripture
2 Timothy 3:12-17 (MSG)
Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They’re as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.
But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
And I will add: Lord Jesus come quickly. Let every Christian pursue You with everything they have and go forward, full steam ahead, to bring others into God’s kingdom. God’s standards of holiness will never fail us. Amen.