ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE
The Old Testament is full of types and shadows of New Testament truth. Whenever I have difficulty trying to understand a truth from the New Testament, I turn back to its foreshadowing in the Old. In fact, I believe every single episode or story in the Old Testament is full of ripe truth for New Testament believers.
One such example is the passage concerning Moses at the burning bush. I believe this particular story is full of profound New Testament truth on the subject of holiness.
While Moses was alone on Mount Horeb herding his father-in-law's sheep, a strange sight suddenly grabbed his attention: A bush was burning brightly, as if on fire, yet it was not consumed!
Moses decided to go for a closer look and as he stepped nearer, God called to him out of the bush: "Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush" (Exodus 3:3-4).
That bush was burning without being consumed because God was present in it. It was a visual representation of God's holiness. Indeed, wherever He is present, that place is holy.
The New Testament tells us we are called to be holy "even as God is holy."
One such example is the passage concerning Moses at the burning bush. I believe this particular story is full of profound New Testament truth on the subject of holiness.
While Moses was alone on Mount Horeb herding his father-in-law's sheep, a strange sight suddenly grabbed his attention: A bush was burning brightly, as if on fire, yet it was not consumed!
Moses decided to go for a closer look and as he stepped nearer, God called to him out of the bush: "Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush" (Exodus 3:3-4).
That bush was burning without being consumed because God was present in it. It was a visual representation of God's holiness. Indeed, wherever He is present, that place is holy.
The New Testament tells us we are called to be holy "even as God is holy."
- "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). In other words, "It is written, recorded, settled once and for all: We are to be holy, as our God is holy."
- "God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" (1 Thessalonians 4:7). God has not called us just to salvation, or to heaven, or to receive His pardon. Rather, these things are benefits of our one true call, which is to be holy as He is holy.