When we read the Bible, we see that in the Old Testament God set Israel apart to be a Holy nation among all nations. God gave them instructions concerning His will, but Israel failed to reach the state of holiness He desired. Of all the people who were 20 years old and older who came out of Egypt, after wandering for forty years in the wilderness, only two reached the Promised Land. Then afterwards, many of those who did enter Canaan joined in the idolatry of the surrounding nations. This continued up until the death of Jesus Christ and beyond.
“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” Deuteronomy 7:6
When God created Adam and Eve, He created them holy and placed them in the Garden of Eden. Why did God later drive them out of the Garden? They had lost the state of holiness, and only holy beings can eat of the Tree of Life and be in the mountain of Jehovah. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
The death of Christ opened the way for us to enter into the Garden once again. Whosoever will may enter in, yet the same condition of holiness required to be in the Garden at creation has not changed.
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.” 1 Peter 2:9
“But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15–16
What has delayed us from entering heaven? Why is Christ’s return delayed so long? When the church reaches the state of holiness required, Christ will come. We need to strive for holiness, brothers and sisters. We are waiting for the Latter Rain; we need to reach the state of holiness before the Latter Rain will be poured out. For us to carry the Bible and go to church causes no concern to Satan. Many people in the Christian churches are unconverted; they sing, preach and do many things in the church, but are not converted. Going to church is not a guarantee that you will go to heaven; it means that the way for salvation is being opened for you. The story of the ten virgins has a lesson for us that not all who claim to be Christian will be saved (Matthew 25:1–13).
Judas Iscariot failed to resist the sin of his greed and finally he sold our Lord for only thirty pieces of silver. He received the same opportunity as did the other disciples, but he did not improve on the opportunity given to him. Thus, the devil is working moment by moment, hour by hour, to see that we do not reach the state of holiness required to enter heaven.
“Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.” Matthew 27:3–4
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. Brethren, holiness comes as a result of continuous resistance; when we resist temptation we climb the spiritual ladder. Many will be resisted by God in the end because they did not resist sin.
“And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.” 1 Kings 21:1–4
King Ahab who was very rich failed to resist sin; he coveted the vineyard of Naboth. Ahab wanted Naboth to give him the inheritance of his father’s, for it was near his house. Grapes represent holiness, the pure life of Jesus Christ. When the Israelites came out of Egypt they ate bread and herbs, symbolizing their suffering in sin in Egypt. Ahab represents the devil. Naboth represents you and I. God has planted his church in this world and placed in it many Naboths. You need to resist sin and to keep your inheritance; do not give it to Ahab.
In Eden God had instructed Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree in the middle of the garden. The devil, being more subtle than any beast of the field, came to Eve, and started talking with her. She was very amazed to hear the serpent speak. At last, she was deceived, and ate the fruit; but, Adam was not deceived. He understood that Eve had met the enemy. However, Adam failed to resist the beauty of his wife, thinking that if he refused to take of the fruit, his wife would die and who would give him another one? He ate the fruit and then they were naked. Their holiness was gone. Why? They failed to resist sin. My brother, my sister, resist temptations for your holiness. If we fail to resist sin we will never enter into the Garden of Eden. It is through resisting the world that we enter through the heavenly gate into the Garden.
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Luke 13:24. To strive is the war of resisting sin. It is a spiritual war. We must strive so that no fault may be found in us.
In Egypt we see the young man, Joseph, who was very handsome. God put Joseph into the house of Potiphar. In that house was a beautiful woman, Potiphar’s wife. She failed to resist the handsomeness of Joseph and she did many things to try to entice him. She followed him every day and everywhere, hoping that he might be attracted to her. “And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.” Genesis 39:7. Joseph answered, “how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.” Genesis 39:9–10
One major sin of the last days is fornication and adultery; few will resist. Young people and married couples, let us resist for our holiness. Joseph resisted the temptation from Potiphar’s wife and he was put into jail. We are in a spiritual warfare. The devil is very deceptive and will never show you that beyond the pleasures of sin there is hell. If we are connected with anything in this world right now, let us make a firm
resolution to disconnect from it today.
Regarding Jacob and Esau, we read, “And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?” Genesis 25:29–34. So, Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup.
Brethren, the devil has no free gift for you. If he has given you something, he will want your soul in return. Only God is willing to give you a free gift. Do not sell your birthright as Esau did. You are a child of God. Jesus calls you “ kings and priests.” Revelation 1:6. “Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Revelation 3:11. It is better lose everything else rather than lose your eternal life. If you sell your birthright you are a child of Satan, waiting for destruction. It was supposed to be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Esau; but now, since Esau sold his birthright it is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Esau, as the firstborn, sold his birthright and became a child of the devil.
In Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar built an image of gold an commanded everyone to worship it. “Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.” Daniel 3:4–5
When the music played, there were three young men who refused to worship the image. When they were brought before the king he asked, “is it true that you are not worshipping the golden image nor serving my gods?” The king was willing to give them a second chance, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered, “We will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Daniel 3:18. The king was furious and commanded that the Hebrews be thrown into the burning furnace. When they entered the fire they were protected by Jesus because of their holiness, but the mighty men who cast them in perished from the heat. How did they gain holiness? Through continuous resistance of temptation.
Jesus, after He was baptized, was taken into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. He spent forty days with no water or food and then Satan came to tempt Him. “And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” Matthew 4:3.
Similarly, the devil waits to tempt at a time when you are in a desperate situation. You have finished your university degree, you apply for job and the interview is on Sabbath. The boss says, “Just come for one hour for your interview and then you can go do your prayers.” That one hour is enough for the devil; Satan waits until you are desperate. When Satan approached Christ, he knew that this was an opportune time to allure the son of God; but, Jesus answered, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. The devil was defeated. He could not tempt Jesus into a sin of hypocrisy or presumption.
Today, the devil is showing us that many who claim to be Christians are of the world and do not love God anymore. Fellow pilgrims, if you are connected with anything in the world it is time cut it out now; make a resolution to resist all temptation. You do not want God to say of you, “Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.” Hosea 4:17. When God says, “let him alone”, it means lost forever. My brother, my sister, resist all temptations for your holiness. God bless you while you strive to reach holiness. Amen.
Jenifer Akello, Uganda