Here is an incredible fact about the righteous dead, and one that merits our attention, if we are to properly understand it. The writer to the Hebrews encourages Jesus’ followers to, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Does this mean that only those who are perfectly holy will be raised? I don’t think so. Even in this verse it’s clear that it is the pursuit of holiness rather than the full attainment of holiness that qualifies us. John says something similar: “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:2-3). Look carefully at the words here. John is saying that everyone who trusts that when Jesus is revealed they will be like Him purifies himself. In other words, we are purified through our faith in God. This is important, and if we miss it, we may fall into the trap of thinking that we can become holy by our own efforts. There is something that we can do, and that is to have faith. It’s in our power to daily walk and talk with Jesus, and when we do, the Holy Spirit transforms us into the likeness of God. Purification is something that the Spirit does. We can’t make ourselves holy, but we can choose holiness and trust the Holy Spirit to change us into the image and likeness of God.