At the beginning of the 19th century there lived a sculptor named Dannecker, one of the finest artists in the world. He specialized in carving images of Greek gods and goddesses. But Dannecker wanted to produce a true masterpiece – and he set his mind on sculpting a figure of Christ.
Dannecker's finished work was so beautiful that it brought gasps of admiration from everyone who saw it. Word of the new masterpiece finally reached the ears of the emperor Napoleon. "Come to Paris," he invited. "Carve me a statue of Venus for the Louvre."
The artist Dannecker politely replied, "Sir, the hands that carved the Christ can never again carve a heathen goddess."
Once we have touched those nail-scarred hands we cannot live the old way any longer. When we have touched what is holy, we begin to look at all else in a completely different way. There are activities that must be left behind, habits we must break, and relationships we can no longer pursue.
But how can we attain holiness worthy of God? We realize immediately that we simply cannot, for we are prone to sin. This is why Jesus came to die for us – because we had no hope of becoming worthy on our own. Yet the scriptural command remains clear: we must be holy.
It seems a paradox. How can we live in purity while we are surrounded by so much sin and temptation? The Holy Spirit is the answer.
Your View of God Really Matters ...
Is there an area in your life where you are struggling to be pure? Ask the "the Helper," the Holy Spirit, to help you. Ask Him to help you not only resist temptation, but shift your focus from yourself and your problems to who God is and His power.
Learn more about God’s character at Discover God, by Bright Media Foundation, an affiliate of Cru.
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