Holiness Becometh Thine House
"Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, 0 Lord, forever: (Psalm. 93:5.)
Because holiness, purity, uprightness, and sinlessness are a becoming thing to God, so should they be to his people. The God of heaven is not a God of lustfulness, nor one of anger, as is so often attributed to the idols of men; but God is love, and his mercy, grace and goodness shine in contrast to the selfish nature of men. "Be ye holy" is God's command, for he is holy. If God were not pure, and upright, then he would not have any right to demand such of his people; but God is sinless, so it is his eternal right to command the same of us.
Holiness, indeed, "becomes" His people, His family. The household of God, must partake of his nature, or else fail to please him. When we are Christians, we will behave as a child of God should. " — but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:15.)
Yes, God's children should be holy. His very nature is holy, his works are holy, His word is holy, so the only conclusion can be is, that the fruit it produces must also be holy. This building of living stones, the church, as it is in contrast to the literal fleshly Israel, of the Old Covenant, should live up to God's expectation of uprightness and purity. (1 Pet. 2:1-10.) Read it! This living building should ever be consecrated to the service of God, and so should its every member, and servant, be holy before God.
Our greatest problem in the Kingdom of God is this pressing one or persuading every member to be consecrated, pure and upright in God's sight. If we could convince our brethren that this is our first duty (Matt. 6:33), then problems of additions to God's teaching, problems of morals, problems of unfaithfulness would disappear. Every servant, minister, has an obligation and duty to first show himself consecrated to the work of God before he can teach others to be so. How can an unfaithful preacher teach others to be faithful? How can he teach that which is right if he does not know and practice that which is right? The preacher who does not respect the sacred authority of the Word of God cannot teach others to respect it. If a preacher does not take what it says, then he cannot teach his brethren to take what it says. Why so many untaught, cowardly members in the body? Because of preachers who cannot, or will not, teach. Holiness becomes a preacher of God's truth.
Members of the Lord's family cannot shirk or escape their obligation in this matter either. They must be pure. Why does so much of the work of the church go for naught? Because of ungodliness in the lives of brethren in the Lord. How can we expect to convert the world, when the parade of sin is led by unholy brothers or sisters? We cannot. As long as we have brethren who condone sin, and engage in sin; then our hopes for converting sinners is slim indeed. When brethren in the Lord quit drinking, or approving drinking, when they quit cursing, when they quit dancing, shorts-wearing, gambling, and such like, then our hopes of converting the world will grow. Against ungodliness? Yes sir! That is what God expects of his children, for "holiness becometh thine house."
The church cannot be holy, as long as the doctrine it teaches is not pure. (James 3:17.) Nor can the church be holy while its faith is weak, its discipline slovenly, and its practice impure. Right doctrine, and impure practice, is just as wrong as having wrong doctrine in the first place. There is no circumstance in which holiness will not become the house of God.
Holiness becomes our lives, and our families as individuals. Many ask what can I do to help the cause of Christ? This is the greatest: Live pure, upright lives. Joshua of old said: " — but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah." Why not we? What is there to keep us from saying and promising God, that we will live holy and Godly lives before him? Why not put God first? The first and great commandment is this: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, body and mind." Is this your wish?
Holiness is becoming even to nations, and how we need it today. "Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." (Prov. 14:34.) How true this is. How can you help this problem? Read 1 Tim. 2:1-2. Holiness of men, the church, families, and of nations, is truly a becoming thing to the Righteous God of heaven.