Holiness To The Lord

I imagine Holiness to the Lord isn’t the first thing you think about when considering your identity. If I assume correctly, I hope this email and blog post give you a fresh and true perspective of who you really are.

 

I truly love the Old Testament. Not to diminish my love for the New Testament in any way, but it’s really a relative acknowledgement. In relation to how I have cherished the New Testament throughout my Christian journey, my affection for the Old Testament never measured up. However, going through Beth Moore’s, A Woman’s Heart God’s Dwelling Place Bible Study, probably about the time of its publication in 2007 equalized my affections. This study of the Old Testament tabernacle shook the ground beneath my feet and sparked a fire as I realized the connections between the two Testaments. From that time forward, I have found Jesus all throughout the Old Testament and that lights me up.

 

Recently, Exodus 28:36-38 gave me a beautiful picture of our true identity once we call Jesus, Savior.

 

"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 turban; it shall be on the front of the turban. So 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; and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord. Exodus 28:36-38

Let’s start with Aaron.

Aaron was the Old Testament high priest. Beth Moore taught me to see the Old Testament as a physical picture of a spiritual reality. For example, the Israelites pursued and attained a physical promised land. As New Testament believers, we pursue and attain a spiritual promised land. So, when we look at Aaron, we can say he pictured something in the physical that portrays some spiritual reality for us. Spiritually right now, Jesus made us priests to God.

 

And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:5-6

 

Aaron wore a physical sign on his forehead that was a physical picture of our helmet of salvation. In Christ, we are HOLINESS TO THE LORD. Because we are identified as HOLINESS TO THE LORD, we can wear the helmet of salvation. Knowing our true identity protects our mind from the enemy and his lies. The priest wore that pure gold plaque on his forehead before all the children of Israel that they be accepted before the Lord. Our new and true, in Christ identity makes us accepted before the Lord.

 

“You shall put the turban on his head, and put the holy crown on the turban.”

Exodus 29:6

 

The Holy Crown

God instructed Aaron to physically wear the “holy crown.” The holy crown was the pure refined gold plate with HOLINESS TO THE LORD engraved on it. The gold plate and label had to be put on by someone else. Jesus’s work put on us a spiritual holy crown with the name HOLINESS TO THE LORD engraved on it. If you are in Christ, spiritually, you are walking around with a crown that identifies you as HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

 

After reading Exodus 38-39 early one morning a couple of weeks ago. I thought about that crown on my head all day long. As I drove to church to meet for staff meeting that morning, I sat a little taller, held my head a little straighter because Christ imprinted His identity on me. I felt more confident, not because of me, but because of what Jesus did for me and gave me. Jesus took the wretched woman that I was and made me new. He took someone excessively unholy and identified her as HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

 

What a miracle! What a gift Jesus gave us! What a great salvation!

The Coming Crown  

Right now, our crown is spiritual. But there will be a day, we actually receive a real crown, an imperishable crown of life, righteousness, and glory.

 

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 2:10

 

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

1 Corinthians 9:25

 

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

2 Timothy 4:8

 

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him

James 1:12

 

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 Peter 5:4

 

We’ve often heard about putting on the armor of God, but I want to challenge you today, this week, next week, each and every day to start putting your crown on. Jesus gave you a crown to wear, so wear it. When we start walking around this life aware that we have a spiritual crown on our head that says, HOLINESS TO THE LORD, how we live and feel, what we think and say will transform based on a conscious realization of our true identity continually conforming to Christ.

Prayer: 

Precious Jesus, Thank You for this great gift of salvation that identifies me and crowns me with HOLINESS TO THE LORD. Holy Spirit, bring this to my awareness daily. Transform me and conform me to my Savior Jesus Christ. Amen!  

Much Love and Blessings,

Pat Domangue