But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV

What does it mean to be “holy”?

Often holiness is viewed as religious. Many people cringe at the word thinking they must somehow achieve perfection by their own efforts. Our hope lies not in our ability to attain righteousness but in the grace given us through Jesus Christ. We were redeemed from our empty way of life by the precious blood of this pure and spotless Lamb.

We have been bought with a price. Our life is no longer our own. We have been shown a love that’s real, a love that never ends. Jesus laid down His life for us so that we would no longer live for ourselves but for Him who died and rose again on our behalf.

And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. – 2 Corinthians 5:15 NKJV

Our sinful flesh has been crucified with Him making us new creatures. Our former way of life is history (2 Cor. 5:17). Christ now lives in us. This being the case it is possible for us to “be holy as He is holy” so long as our lives remain fully surrendered to the Lord.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. – Galatians 2:20 NKJV

As our Bible study group discussed this topic from 1 Peter 1:13-15 someone highlighted the portion of text that says we are to “live as strangers here.” Perhaps this is the key to becoming holy.

When visiting another country we are considered foreigners. Cultural practices, customs, clothing, food, and many other facets of life are different than those of our home country. In order to live as “strangers” on the earth we must become “foreigners” to this worldly culture. We must see life on earth as different than the norm and live according to the customs of our eternal home. In order to do so we must learn what it looks like to be citizens of a heavenly country.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” There has to be something different taking place in heaven for Jesus to emphasize this prayer for a heavenly Kingdom to be manifest on earth. Well, what exactly is going on in heaven? Jesus, the Great High Priest, is standing at the right hand of the Father daily interceding on our behalf. Elders cast their crowns at His feet. Living creatures full of eyes fix their gaze toward the One seated on the throne (Rev. 4). Night and day the echo resounds, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Angles sing, “Glory to God in the highest!” There is a river producing life and fruit continuously. Intercession, rejoicing, worship, and healing abound. This is just a glimpse into our heavenly culture. Do we know where we come from?

How interesting that when the Israelites entered the Promise Land they were not to intermarry or integrate the culture of the nations they conquered. We enter this world as babies straight from the hands of our heavenly Creator. All to quickly we adapt to a new culture and find ourselves integrated into the customs of this foreign land.

If we are to “be holy as He is holy” we must be reprogrammed. This is why Peter tells us, “Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled.” We prepare our minds by reading the Bible and meditating on the Word of God. We have been brainwashed to believe that this foreign earthly culture is normal, which is why we must continually wash ourselves with the water of God’s Word. Once we discover the truth of our original culture we must exercise self-control to restrain from participating in common practices we see others, even believers, engaged in. We are simply strangers on the earth (Heb. 11:10-16). His commands are our roadmap to holy living.

I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. – Psalm 119:19 NIV

To be holy is to be set apart from the culture of this world. Let us commit our hearts to live counter-culturally and remember that heaven is our home!

– Chérie Blair