The Electric Prunes: "Holy Are You"

I wonder what my anti-rock-music church leaders would have thought of praising God with electric guitars. I know I'd have loved this song if somebody had played it to me when I was a teenager.

Check out the song here:

We often take the Father's holiness for granted. Like fish, we're so used to water being around us and in us. Only when we're out of water do we miss it.

Moses was one person who wanted to see God's holy glory. The father knew no mortal could withstand his full brilliance so he said to Moses in Exodus 33:21-23 (Bible in Basic English), "And the Lord said, 'See, there is a place near me, and you may take your place on the rock: And when my glory goes by, I will put you in a hole in the rock, covering you with my hand till I have gone past: Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back: but my face is not to be seen.'"

And like our heavenly Father, we too must be holy. Leviticus 20:7 (BBE) is his instruction to the descendents of Israel. "So make and keep yourselves holy, for I am the Lord your God."

It's a blessing that God is our heavenly Father, even when we stray from the truth. Malachi 3:6 (BBE) reminded the Israelites of God's mercy in judgement. "For I am the Lord, I am unchanged; and so you, O sons of Jacob, have not been cut off."

Our Master also is eternal and unchanging, as Hebrews 13:8 (BBE) reminds us. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever."

God also can speak of his unchanging nature through unholy people regarding this truth. In Numbers 23:19 (BBE), Balaam said, "God is not a man, to say what is false; or the son of man, that his purpose may be changed: what he has said, will he not do? and will he not give effect to the words of his mouth?"Though we can come boldly into his presence, our heavenly Father must be respected as he is ultimate holiness.

And if his resurrected son doesn't return by Monday, I hope to post about going for a soda and how much safer it is.

Holiness Can't Be Feigned.

The world considers certain religious leaders to be holy. But the world can't judge holiness as it knows nothing about it.

God has much to say on this matter. The most famous passage is 1 Samuel 16:7 (BBE) when David was selected as king of Israel. "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not take note of his face or how tall he is, because I will not have him: for the Lord's view is not man's; man takes note of the outer form, but the Lord sees the heart.'"

Another good passage which shows how God knows our innermost secrets is Psalms 44:20 and 21 (BBE). "If the name of our God has gone out of our minds, or if our hands have been stretched out to a strange god, Will not God make search for it? for he sees the secrets of the heart."

In the Old Testament, circumcision was a rite which separated Israelite males from those of other Nations. God used metaphorical circumcision to sanctify his people spiritually in Deuteronomy 30:6 (BBE). "And the Lord your God will give to you and to your seed a circumcision of the heart, so that, loving him with all your heart and all your soul, you may have life."

We also have the responsibility to warn others who are sliding toward destruction. As Solomon wisely wrote in Proverbs 24:12 (BBE), "If you say, 'See, we had no knowledge of this:' does not the tester of hearts give thought to it? and he who keeps your soul, has he no knowledge of it? and will he not give to every man the reward of his work?"

Likewise, we read this truth in Jeremiah 17:9 (BBE). "The heart is a twisted thing, not to be searched out by man: who is able to have knowledge of it?" God is the only one who can figure it out.


This truth is even expressed in the New Testament. Hebrews 4:12 (BBE)says plainly, "For the word of God is living and full of power, and is sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through and making a division even of the soul and the spirit, the bones and the muscles, and quick to see the thoughts and purposes of the heart."

It's obvious that people who say they're holy will be proven wrong on Judgement Day. That's why I feel compelled to write my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? All bishops, priests, and whatever else they're called will answer to God Almighty. Most won't have a decent answer to give.

On Thursday, I hope to post about God's reward for sanctified deeds.