There is an amazing statement in the Bible made by the Shunamite woman to her husband about the prophet Elisha: “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way.” (2 Kings 4:9) She didn’t say Elisha was a famous man, successful, or handsome, but holy. I believe the need of the hour is holy men of God.

In our culture, the word “holy” has become idiomatic (e.g., holy cow, holy moly, holy mackerel, etc.) and we wonder about anyone professing themselves to be truly “holy.” Such is the stuff of Pharisaic hypocrisy (see Isaiah 65:5, Matthew 23). We would rather confess with the apostle Paul, “I am chief of sinners.” We feel the weight of our sin more than we perceive our position in Christ.

Yet personal holiness is clearly a biblical directive for every Christian (see Hebrews 12:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Peter 1:15). So, while we may not call ourselves holy, it should be something toward which we daily strive.

What does it mean to be holy?

God’s Word presents holiness in three different ways: positional, perfect and progressive.

• Positional holiness is ours by virtue of our union with Christ. We are holy in him and His righteousness has been imputed to our account.

• Perfect holiness means one day we will stand before the Lord, and as McCheyne said, “love him with an un-sinning heart.”

• Progressive holiness, also called sanctification, refers to the pursuit of spiritual growth to become more like Christ. This is what Paul meant when he said, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

We would rather confess with the apostle Paul, “I am chief of sinners.” We feel the weight of our sin more than we perceive our position in Christ.

I’m talking about progressive holiness—that which we are called to pursue in our daily lives. According to the apostle John, a man who lives with the hope of seeing Christ purifies himself. (1 John 3:3) A holy man of God is a man who is distinctive in his character, conversation, and even at times by his countenance. In short, he is a man that could easily be mistaken for Jesus.

Why should I strive to be a “holy man of God?”

The Bible articulates three main reasons:

1. It is the basis of our confidence in salvation. Evidence of true conversion is a desire for holiness. The Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Did you know that there is not one verse in the Bible that gives assurance of salvation for a person living in unrepentant sin? A man who has no concern for the things of God nor a desire to please him proves himself to be lost, no matter what he professes. If this is you, I urge you to repent and commit your life to Christ now.

2. It is the measure of our competence in service. Just as you would not serve a guest anything on a dirty plate, the Lord will not use a “dirty” Christian who tolerates “dishonorable” things in his life. The Apostle Paul exhorted, “If anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21) Are you a vessel for honorable use? Can you point to anything in your life and say the Lord used you? What a joy it is to realize God has used you to touch another person’s life.

3. It is the measure of our communion with Christ. Tozer said, “nearness is likeness.” The reason God often seems distant to us is simply because we’re so unlike him. To quote Tozer: “In spiritual matters we think correctly only when we boldly rule out the concept of space.” God is omnipresent and therefore he is everywhere at once. So, it he seems remote to you, it’s a matter of moral likeness, not physical location.

The book of James offers us this wonderful promise: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8) Through Isaiah the Lord said, “I dwell with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit.” (Isaiah 57:15) If your fellowship with Jesus feels strained, I would urge you to seek him in prayer. Spend time in his Word, confessing all known sin in your life. The key is always faith so trust his nearness. He is never really far away.

* * *

Elisha wasn’t trying to impress the Shunamite woman. In fact, he was completely unaware of her assessment. It will be the same for you when people notice your holy manner of life. What they will really be seeing is the life of Christ, lived through a holy man of God. Such men are greatly needed today.