Understanding Holiness

It’s been debated for centuries: "Does a person learn a talent, or are they born with it?” I’m sure genetics plays a part, but I believe that a majority of a person’s talent is derived from their discipline to learn whatever it is that they are talented at, be it athletics, intelligence, or artistic ability. For those that believe that to be true, they might also see how that’s true spiritually. Can a person accidentally become holy? Can someone be born into holiness apart from their desire to become holy?

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:27, “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after reaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” I’m sure it wasn’t easy staying focused on living a holy life when unholy people were constantly making his walk with God challenging: ridicule, imprisonment, beatings, stoning, not to mention the other natural phenomenons like shipwreck, starvation, etc. (2 Corinthians 11:24-29). But Paul realized the blessing of holiness.

Hours in a gym perfecting a pitch, a throw, a jump, a lift, a run, a swim, anything that causes you to be credited as talented, is at the heart of it. The desire to be good at something, and the discipline to perfect it. 1 Thessalonians 4:4, “Each one of you [should] know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.”

Hebrews 12:7-14, “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? … discipline [is] for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it….”

It's easier to credit talent or goodness to being born with it. Perhaps it’s a way those that choose not to discipline themselves can make an excuse for mediocrity. Jesus said, “If you sow sparingly, you’ll reap sparingly.” It should be our goal to encourage one another to do as Hebrews 12:14 says, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

Once we are IN Christ, we are a new creation. We don’t feed the weak-minded things of mankind, but we feed on the strength found in spiritual things. But we all need reminders not to focus on human limitations, but instead do as Paul said in Ephesians 4:24, “Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”