Depending upon who you ask, you might get a variety of opinions. An environmentalist has a tendency to over-react, claiming the world is about to be destroyed due to petroleum. Realists might suggest that Americans have pushed the envelope so far that everyone has been corrupted morally in one way or another. And the zealot, there is no one worthy to stand upon holy ground if it existed today.
The [a]Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, yet was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned. 4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush and said, Moses, Moses! And he said, Here am I. 5 God said, Do not come near; put your shoes off your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground, Exodus 3:2-5.
In the case of the passage above, Moses has just lost his temper and killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew man. From a spiritual sense, Moses had blood on his hands. Moses’ lack of self-control forced him to go on the run, becoming a stranger in a foreign land. Subsequently, when God introduces Himself, holiness becomes an attribute associated with entering God’s presence. Taking off his sandals is symbolic of the first step to taking off your old self, Colossians 3:1-6.
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. 9 Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of [e]untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you, Philippians 4:8-9.
While the apostle Paul makes it clear that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, to key to finding holy ground today lies within acts of contrition. As hearts and minds begin to reflect upon things above, subtle transformations start to occur. As human being change from the inside out, aspirations shift from the temporary to eternal, Matthew 6:33-34. Therefore, as individuals’ hunger and thirst for righteous, holy ground can be reclaimed from the devil, Ephesians 4:26-27.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 