Periodically, I see or hear advertisements for people to sign up to purchase a tour of the so-called holy land in Israel to see some sights where Jesus traveled when He was on earth. There is nothing “holy” about that land as far as the makeup of it is concerned. What is the holy land? God appeared to Moses in the midst of the burning bush. The bush was on fire but the bush was not consumed. The reason it wasn’t consumed is because the Lord was in the midst. Moses had a desire to get closer and see this unusual sight. God forbid him to draw nigh until something was done. He told Moses, “And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5). It was “holy ground” because the Lord was there. Where the Lord manifests His presence in the midst of the people of God is surely the “holy land” and not any place in the country of Israel. God is holy and we are called upon to be holy as well. We must put off our shoes; that is put off the things of the world and lay those aside before we can approach the holy God. For Moses to get a closer view of this burning bush, he must put off his shoes. If we desire to get a closer view of the holy God and His Son, Jesus Christ, we must also put off the old and put on the new. Paul said, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Eph. 4:22-24). Make your trip to the “holy land”; come into the house of God on the Lord’s Day and worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth. God manifests His presence in the worship service and we are not consumed by the fires of this world and all other adversities. We can go away refreshed because we have had a closer view of our great God and His dear Son. May we all draw closer and stand on “holy ground” as we put off and put on!–April 13, 2012–Elder Larry Wise
