By YouTube is filled with “How to ….” instructions for many practical things we all bump into from time to time. Spiritually we bump into temptation frequently enough that we should be crying out for a “How to …” instruction regarding sin and temptation. Thankfully, Scripture is filled with such instruction. However, we might first need the “How not to …” instructions to expose the ways that do not work. We commonly accept some of these as ways to become more holy, but, as we ourselves prove, they don’t work.
You will not become more holy by doing nothing. “Let go and let God” is true of justification before God, but not of sanctification in this life where your obedience is a very necessary part. Postponing by waiting for a more opportune time to fight temptation doesn’t make one holy either. Going about aimlessly, not really doing anything because you actually have no clue where even to start is a proven recipe not to become more holy.
Treating sin and temptation physically also doesn’t make us more holy. Punishing yourself by withholding joy and happiness from yourself, or perhaps even punishing yourself with physical discomfort and pain is no highway to holiness. The same is true for medication. Pills might alter your state of mind, but they don’t make your mind any holier for it.
Practicing more religion is the highway to holiness in all false religions, but it too doesn’t work. Maintaining religious traditions might make you appear holy, but it is only external. Experiencing powerful spiritual events makes you feel more holy, but it wears off. Participation in ministry motivates you to holiness, but only until the post-ministry blues kick in again. Verbal declarations against sin and Satan and verbal affirmations of blessing and holiness are likewise ineffective in producing actual holiness.
Theological meditation is an important component of sanctification, but, by itself, it too will not make you more holy. No matter how mystical your mind can juggle different theological concepts, and no matter how much “salvation by grace alone” is ingrained in your thinking, you simply won’t be growing into holiness by merely knowing it.
All these ways are not the highway to true holiness. Neither of these can overcome the power of temptation every time. It is time to recognise the futility of these things in our pursuit of holiness and adopt the Biblical highway to holiness.
So, come back again tomorrow, for “How you will become more holy”