The ultimate heads-up! The High Priest, connecting God and man, has a sentence sermon for us.
Scripture plainly states, “Pursue…holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). But what is holiness and why is it so important? To help explain, God paints us a picture: “You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And you shall put it on a blue cord, that it may be…on the front of the turban” (Ex 28:36-37). Aaron was outfitted with a white linen turban, speaking of the righteousness of God in Christ, our living Head. A blue cord then turns our thoughts to heaven. In some mysterious way, Jesus proclaims Himself the One “who came down from heaven,” but at the same time “the Son of Man who is in heaven” (Jn 3:13). This blue connection linked the white linen of His spotless humanity with the pure gold of His deity. The word holy carries with it first the idea of being different or separate, specifically set apart to be used for God alone. In fact, holy is the idea of being wholly, or completely, the Lord’s. That certainly was true of Jesus’ commitment to His Father. He could say, “I always do those things that please Him” (Jn 8:29). So while righteousness and holiness are related, righteousness is the condition of being right, while holiness is more an attitude or position that is first for God and so obviously against sin. “It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel hallow in all their holy gifts…that they may be accepted before the Lord” (v 38). Thus, even in the moment we sin, we can be holy if we stand in judgment against it, even when we find it in our own hearts. Run to Him, not from Him, in moments like that! Our great High Priest will advocate for your acceptance!