10-Sep-2024 – When can we be holy?
Isaiah 4:3: “And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem.”
Today, God teaches us about the way He opened for us to be called holy or to become holy: by remaining in Zion and remaining in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the city of God, and Zion is the mount within Jerusalem.
“I have chosen Jerusalem” – 1 Chronicles 6:6
“The Lord has chosen Zion” – Psalm 132:13
We understand that God chose Jerusalem as His city and Zion as His dwelling place in that city. Now, let us imagine an enemy army coming against Jerusalem. Because Jerusalem is God’s city, God will respond on behalf of His people living in that city. Now, consider a group of people who leave Jerusalem for some reason during the time of attack. What happens then? They are outside the protection of the Lord and vulnerable to enemy attacks.
But our God is omnipresent, right? This passage, however, is speaking of a deeper meaning, not just a physical scenario. As New Testament believers, we know that we are the temple of God and the dwelling place of God. We can therefore compare a born-again believer to Zion, and everything in their life—such as family, career, desires, finances, etc.—to Jerusalem. If we are Zion, then Jerusalem is our life that surrounds us.
To understand what it means to remain in Zion and remain in Jerusalem, we need to remember that Zion is the dwelling place of God. So, how does God dwell in us?
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” – 1 Corinthians 3:16
“Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” – 2 Corinthians 6:16
If we are the temple of God and God dwells in us, this means we are aligned with God’s expectations and commandments for righteousness. Remaining in Zion represents abiding by God’s principles and commandments without fail in every situation. When we do this, God walks with us in every aspect of our life—whether it is family relationships, career, finances, health, or anything else.
If God is with us in everything, we have answers and solutions for everything in our lives. Because He knows everything, including our future, He knows what is best for us. When we remain associated with Him, like a temple, putting Him in the highest place and giving Him importance in every area of our life, God will make us holy.
Being holy means being set apart for God. For example, when we receive our salary each month, most of us set aside tithes for God. We don’t use that portion for anything else. Similarly, in churches, the utensils used for God’s service are not used for any other purpose. In the same way, when we let God dwell in us through the fellowship of His Word and Spirit, we are made holy—set apart for His work and purposes.
Prayer:
Dear loving Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and grace. Thank You for teaching us today about the way to become holy. Remaining in Zion means remaining in Your fellowship. Then, our lives will experience the glory of Your presence, and we will be called holy. Help us to practice this in our daily lives. I pray in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen!
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