When we were little boys, we thought that getting too close to girls was unhealthy. After all, according to our parents, they had cooties. We didn’t know that the parents of girls were telling them that boys had cooties! We later learned that girls or boys don’t have cooties but still, be careful about getting too close to them!
Ironically, when apples hang out together, if one goes bad, it can have a damaging impact upon the other apples. That one bad apple emits a gaseous hormone that’s detrimental and contagious to those touching it, let alone potentially to the entire bunch.
As a follower of Christ, we are recreated in Him and repositioned into His family. We are made holy (Ephesians 1:1,4). But what we are in position does not automatically equate to what we practice in life. Hence, God commands us to be holy, just as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15).
The Christian life isn’t robotic or mechanic. Indeed, we are commanded to work out, to exercise, to put off, to press forward, to take captive, to walk, and to grow. Following the Lord isn’t pensive or passive but active and intentional.
That’s essential because if we allow sin to go unconfessed in our lives, it will impact those around us, not to mention the worship that we bring to God. Our lack of practical holiness will taint our works of righteousness. That’s not good!