By G.D. Watson
Holiness is the most essential thing in the universe to a moral creature. Holiness is not an action, but a state of being which lies behind the action. Holiness is a state of purity, of simplicity, of unmixedness with foreign elements. All sin is a foreign element to pure, simple human nature. It is to the moral nature what a fever is to the blood. If purity -- that is, unmixedness -- is essential to having good water, good air, good bread, good health, good soil for growth of crops, it is infinitely more essential to the soul. Holiness of heart is more essential to the well-being and destiny of the soul than knowledge, or power, or great talents. A holy nature will wonderfully utilize a small amount of knowledge, power, or wealth; but, on the other hand, the principle of sin in the soul will pervert and squander a vast amount of learning or riches, or opportunity. Whatever hinders the obtainment of complete moral purity blocks the train, strangles the life, and forfeits the true end of our being.
Perhaps the first great hindrance to holiness is a failure to apprehend its necessity. So many locate all goodness in the activities of life, and fail to discern the true state of being. So many think there is no sin except in the act, and not seeing that all inherent darkness, perversity, crookedness or impurity embedded in the nature itself is of the quality of sin, do not realize the necessity of being purified in the very substance of the inner nature.
It is comparatively easy to lead Christian people to appropriate Jesus as a sanctifier when they once fully realize the absolute need of cleansing. Hence one of the most successful methods of preaching holiness is to analyze the heart, to delineate the features of the native inner man, to show his characteristics, his pedigree, his behavior, his moral complexion, not only as he acts in the sinner but also as he acts in a restrained and subtle way in the believer. If such a portrayal is made in a wise and scriptural manner, every honest and truly converted soul will see more or less his need of a deeper work of grace, and, at the same time, his conscience and judgment will side with the truth, though the carnal elements in him may rebel.
Another hindrance to attaining heart purity is the lack of being clear in justification. Sanctification begins in justification, and if we are not dearly pardoned we are below the point where holiness begins. To say that the people who are fully cleansed have just been restored from backsliding, is not only a slander on the work of God, but reveals great ignorance concerning the doctrine of Scripture and the deep facts of the soul. Persons who most intensely hate inward sin, and most fervently desire the whole mind of Christ, are those who are in the clearest light of justification. A backslidden state dulls the apprehension respecting the need of holiness; it veils the pure nature of Christ from the understanding; it blunts the inward sensibilities to the touch of divine truth; it opens the mind to the reception of all sorts of heresies respecting divine things.
Another hindrance to holiness is viewing it in an unScriptural light, and holding unScriptural views respecting it. Among such unScriptural views is that of being purified from original sin at the same time we are pardoned from actual sin, and confounding the two. Also the error that our sanctification is located in the person of Christ, instead of being imparted to our nature by the Holy Spirit. Also that of confounding the cleansing of the soul with growth in grace, and also the theory that inward sin is only to be repressed and not purged out of our being. The persistent holding of any one of these unScriptural views will effectually prevent the soul from entering into that rest of heart of which Canaan is a type.
There is a notion afloat among the churches that people can believe most anything respecting salvation, that they can hold several views about grace, or no definite view at all, and yet in some way blunder into deep religious experience. But the Holy Ghost never works along lines of error. It is true, thousands are saved and fully cleansed who do not understand the theology of it, but they do always apprehend the cardinal facts in the case.
There are many other hindrances, such as an unwillingness to get light on the subject, a prejudice against the Scripture terms, stumbling over other people, being frightened at a stray fanatic, an unwillingness to give up self at some point. But whatever the hindrance may be, it must give way before we can enter the paradise of God. If we as God's children will keep our eyes on the main facts in the case, our need and Christ's supply, if we have a teachable and obedient heart, God will find many ways to break down barriers, to send us help from unexpected quarters, and make the seemingly impossible melt away to an easy and simple thing.
