Text: 1 Peter 1:14; Hebrews 12:14; Psalm 16:3; Ephesians 5:3
The word ‘Saint’ is used to describe someone that is living a holy consecrated and totally surrendered life. Such person having repented and be forgiven of all sins and washed by the blood of Jesus Christ lives his life in absolute reverence to God. The teaching of certain religious groups, who tell them that ‘Saints’ are, holy men/women who have lived and died long ago, sometimes misleads some youths. Such groups make them to believe that it is not possible to live a saintly life, while one is still living. This may be the reason why many youths have come to the conclusion that it is not possible for anyone to be a saint in this world. However, references from the bible will serve to correct such erroneous teaching (Psalm 16:3, Acts 9:32, Romans 1:7, Ephesians 5:3).
1. The Portrait of Saintly Life
Psalm 1:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:24-31
A portrait is a photograph with a vivid description of its image. The true photograph of saints is as presented by God through His word- the bible. A saint is a converted, renewed, holy and righteous person that lives according to God’s word. Such life makes the individual to be freed from lying, stealing, evil speaking, fornication, bitterness, wrath, anger, malice, examination malpractice, youthful lust, fighting, rebellion etc. Heaven becomes the goal and affection of such individual. Those things that excite worldly youths no longer excite him. His entire life is focused on heaven only anywhere he is; whether in the school, at home or in the church. His main pre-occupation is how to please the Lord only.
2. The Possibility of Saintly Living
Psalm 33:8; John 1: 29; 3:16-17; 4:42; 10: Hebrews 10: 13-20; Matthew 5:48; 1 Peter 1:14; John 8:31
God being a loving and merciful father will not give anyone any assignment that He knows will be unattainable. Hence, in Matthew 5:48, God commanded that man must be perfect as He is. In 1 Peter 1:14 the same demand for holiness is made by God. Examples of believers who have lived in this contemporary times as well as men of old as presented in the bible prove to us that living a saintly life is still possible today as ever. Indeed, we live at a time where we have a lot of privileges that the saints of old did not have. For example,
(i) We have anointed men of God preaching and organising programmes for us so that we can live the life that God wants. Neither Joseph nor Daniel had this opportunity.
(ii) We have the mind of God documented for us in the bible but there was no bible at the time of Joseph or Daniel to study and have a coherent knowledge of God’s mind as we do today.
(iii) We have numerous Christian messages on the internet, literatures, discs and MP3 etc. which was not the case with Enoch, Elijah and Elisha or Daniel, Shedrach, Meshach and Abednago yet they lived holily and saintly in their respective generations.
(iv) Many of those people lived in idolatrous societies with a high level of fanaticism in their idol worship, yet they served the Lord. If you make up your mind today, saintly life is possible for you.
3. The Power of Saintly Living
Proverbs 11:8; 14:34; 6:26; Luke 10:19; 1 John 5: 18
The reality of life and scriptural provisions has shown that righteousness empowers a man while sin and any form of wickedness weaken, limit and destroy its victim. Sin brings reproach but righteousness exalts (Proverbs 14:34). Righteousness empowers you for greatness (Genesis 39:2-4), it makes you bold and courageous (Daniel 3:16-18; Acts 4:29).
Indeed saintly living, righteousness or holy living have the following benefits:
(i) It brings you into great honour (Proverbs 22:21; Genesis 39:2-4)
(ii) It gives you protection and security (Psalm 15:2; Proverbs 13:6)
(iii) It gives you peace and quietness of life (Isaiah 32:17)
(iv) It delivers you from shame and ridicule (Romans 10:11)
(v) It delivers you from death and destruction (Proverbs 10:2) but sin brings you into danger and destruction (Proverbs 11:5;Numbers 21:6; 25:9)
(vi) It brings you success and prosperity (Isaiah 33:15-16)
(vii) It makes your prayers to be answered (Proverbs 15:29)
(viii) It gives you real freedom (Romans 8:2)
(ix) It gives you the power to overcome the world, sin and Satan (1 John 4:4; 5:4,18)
(x) It delivers you from the impending eternal damnation in hell fire and prepares you for eternity in heaven (Revelation 21:8; John 3:18).
Wisdom therefore demands that you make the right decision now before it is too late. Remember you have only one life.
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