My husband and I love to watch all things Star Trek. There is the concept of timelines and reading my Bible, I definitely get a sense of a different timeline. It was such a different world then. The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.’” Leviticus 19:1-2. The Chapter goes on to instruct them in how to love God and love your fellow man which Jesus affirmed thousands of years later to the Sadducees and Pharisees. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (Deuteronomy 6:5) This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Leviticus 19:18) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.

God goes on to give practical examples and guidelines in how to do both of those things in Leviticus 19. One of the specific things was to not reap the harvest of the land to the very edges so the poor could come behind and glean food for themselves (v. 9-10). In the Book of Ruth, that practice saved Ruth and Naomi. (Ruth 2:2). It saved countless numbers of poor and needy then.

Why does God tell us to be holy? A good question might be what is unholy? Maybe if we read it that way it might shed light on why God desires holiness from us. (Don’t respect your parents; don’t observe God’s Sabbaths; make idols for yourselves; be greedy in your harvests and deny food to the hungry and poor; steal; lie; deceive one another; profane God’s Holy name; rob your neighbor…the list goes on and on).

We live in such a world today. How many people lie, steal, defraud, slander, are so hungry for greed they don’t care whom they hurt? How about the latest up-to-date sins in our timeline? Shooting school rooms of innocent children, of grocery shoppers, of worshippers in churches, synagogues, mosques? How about setting off bombs or flying airplanes into skyscrapers? Unholy.

I couldn’t help but ponder all of these things and ask God why. He sees everything we do. He knows our hearts. In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end. The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you. Psalm 102:25-28.

God remains the same. No matter what timeline we inhabit, His instructions are for our life. Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. It’s so easy to forget that truth in the crush of everything clamoring for our attention. This busy world never stops demanding our attention. If you watch the news and are dismayed, ponder what God tells us we should be doing. There is no disconnect between the sins we decry and our behavior. Maybe that’s why He tells us there’s a better way…a holy way.

How can we be holy in an unholy world? Ask God to help. In prayer this morning I was asking Him the same questions I posed here. How? Draw near to Me. Trust that My thoughts work within the busyness of yours. Take time for stillness and quiet repose. Take time to spend time with Me in prayer, in sharing. Share your heart…all of it. I hear it all. Trust Me for everything. I am here.

Even if no one else wants to, live the way God wants you to. There’s a reason. Listen to Him. Amidst the clamoring noise and never ending demands for your time, take a little time to listen to His still, small voice deep within. He’s here. In Him alone you will find peace. You need God’s peace as much as I do.