Talking about the return of Jesus, the apostle Peter wrote, “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (2 Peter 3:11-12).

But what does it mean to be holy?

Something that is holy is set apart; it is made for a special, godly purpose.

For example, if I was playing a game of tennis, and instead of using a tennis racket I used my Bible, someone might take issue with that. Why? Because, they would probably tell me, the Bible is holy. In other words, it is made for a special purpose. It’s God’s word and wisdom to us and should be respected as such. (By the way, I have no plans to use my Bible as a tennis racket.)

In a similar way, followers of Jesus are holy. That doesn’t mean you’re ‘holier than thou,’ have all the answers, or never make a mistake.

It means you are set apart. You are made for a special, godly purpose: to know, love, serve and glorify God as the hands and feet of Christ, as you get in on the ways he is renovating the world with his love and truth.

Sure, that will take different forms in different chapters of your life, and based on your experiences, personality, and spiritual gifts. But whenever and however, you are to be holy.

Don’t just fit in. Don’t blend. Don’t adopt the apathetic and cynical view that nothing really matters anyway so who cares.

Good things are coming. Hope is dawning. And your life—as one of God’s holy ones—can be a foreshadowing of that great day when heaven and earth really do meet.

“You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”

Life is short. So don’t shortchange your life.

By Matthew Ruttan

–Did you miss my video about how to memorize a Bible passage? If so, click here.
–Today’s “Up!” is based on my most recent podcast—Part 4 in the Armageddon series. Starting Tuesday, December 10, 2019, you can hear it on MatthewRuttan.com.
–Bible quotes are from the NIV.