Late Night Holiness

Posted on July 7, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters

“For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of Him during your time as “foreigners in the land.’” – 1 Peter 1:16-17 (NLT)

 

A convenience store can be a great place to find when one is travelling in a foreign area. While in Montreal last year, I found myself wanting that late night bowl of ice cream and there was none to be found at the hotel. So, off I went into the city. After frustratingly surveying the area around the Hotel InterContinential for at least two blocks in each direction, I found myself back at the front desk of the hotel asking where I could find ice cream. After we greeted each other with a familiar “Bonsoir” (good thing I know a little French) I asked if there was a WaWa-ish convenience store within walking distance from the hotel (in English, I’m not that versed in French).

 

I was told that the “Couche-tard” was just another block away from where I gave up my search. I had seen their sign in the distance but it would have been of no good to me, as my limited understanding of French would have led me to believe that this had something to do with being a night owl (which is what couche-tard means). The faith I lacked in myself, to be able to sniff out a suitable substitute for WaWa anywhere I went, was restored by a very polite Montréaler in whom I found to be most helpful during my stay there. All in all, as much as I tried to make Montreal a familiar place for my own peace of mind, it ain’t nothin’ like South Jersey and the Couche-tard isn’t WaWa.

 

I’m pretty sure that the apostle Peter didn’t have finding a convenience store in mind when penned his epistle to the elect sojourners of the Dispersion of Pontus, of Galatia, of Cappadocia, of Asia, and Bithynia, but what he appears to have in mind serves as a reminder that, once you fully come to Christ, the surrounding area in which you live isn’t your proper home. Now, don’t go puttin’ a “For Sale” sign on the front lawn and try to get the coordinates for the GPS app on your iPhone for where God wants you to be, because He’s got a process for you to go through and I’ll share that you right now…

 

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” — 1 Peter 1:13-15

 

I’m pretty certain that Peter knew the struggle to conform to a way that was outside the norm’s of his Jewish upbringing. Jesus was very quick to point the follies of the religious leaders that He had confronted and Peter had a front row seat to that. The mission that Jesus was sent to do was steeped in reconciliation with relation to Creator/Creation, but the only way things could move in that direction was by transformational thinking. So, Jesus presented Scripture in a fulfilled way, “You’ve heard it said but I say to you…” Instead of “THOU SHALT NOT” Jesus said, “Here’s what you should do.”

 

Where the Pharisees interpretation of The Law went for behavior modification, Jesus went for heart transformation. Peter goes straight thereafter his salutation and exaltation in the 1^st chapter of 1 Peter. In verses 13-15 Peter encourages us to think clearly, maintain self-control, live in godly obedience, and to not go backwards. He would back this up with what is found in the Book of Leviticus (11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7), “You must be holy because I am holy.”

 

So, for those who would think that the act of behavior modification without so much as an ounce of heart transformation is acceptable by God, Peter will remind his audience that it’s the quality of one’s relationship with God and not how much good stuff was done or what group you were in that will be judged. This would be why Peter tells us to maintain a righteous fear of El Elyon and that we aren’t nothing more than a bunch of tourists as we go our time on earth.

 

I may have treated my stay at the Hôtel InterContinential Montréal as if I was home, but I found out quickly that it wasn’t and it wasn’t meant to be. As comfortable as we get in our present state of living accommodations is as much as we gotta remember that, as God’s obedient children, this isn’t home for us either. “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the Word of the LORD remains forever.” Amen?

 

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris is a child of El Elyon, a son, a husband, and a father. He has an education in Biblical doctrine and is a graduate of The Colony of Mercy, 11/2003. He has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008. You can email him at cphughes515@verizon.net.

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This Week’s Verse to Memorize:“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, ⁸ Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness…’” Hebrews 3:7-8