XIV. CONCLUSION
If the outside is easy, and I have spent numerous hours
arguing that it is, and some do not even attempt to master the outside, I am
very concerned about their inside. “If
we cannot cleanse that which we and others can see, then it will be even harder
to cleanse that which no one else can see” (What is Holiness?, William F. Hill,
pg 47).
I hope you have not misunderstood my intentions in this
writing. I believe the outside is the
easy part. I have not made much mention
of the inside. This could cause someone
to think I have given precedence to the outside. This is not so. I agree
with this statement taken from The Works of Jonathan Edwards, “However fair and
pure an outside there may be, that may be very pleasing to men, yet if there be
not purity of heart; the man is not at all the more acceptable to God.”
I have neglected to address the “inside” in this writing
because the “outside” was my targeted topic.
However, I pray you have not neglected the “inside” in your pursuit of
God. I hope that as you have invested
the time to read this booklet that you have not done so possessing religion
only. Though I have focused primarily
on the externals, it is of utmost importance that you truly have a heart that
is fixed upon the Savior.
Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? Have you really repented of your sins? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God and that He was the perfect sinless sacrifice for our sins? Do you accept the fact that He arose from
the grave and now sits on the right hand of God the Father making intercession
for you and me right now? If not, I
pray that you would believe, repent, and accept Him now as your personal Savior.
Then, continue your pursuit of God by Bible reading,
praying, fasting, and saturating yourself with conservative, anointed, Holiness
preaching, teaching and reading. As you
do, keep these words of wisdom from William F. Hill in mind: “Holiness without love will cause a person
to become a very bitter individual.
Love, without holiness, will cause a person to be very giddy and
shallow. There must be the two of
these, holiness and love, together” (What is Holiness? pg 103).
In closing, I want to incorporate this final quote from
Barnes’ Notes: “The praise of God can
be bestowed only on those who conform really, and not externally only, to His
requirements.”
The “outside” is the easy part.