Humpty Dumpty Had a Great Fall
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” — 1 Peter 1:13–16
Peter’s letter is about how we respond to suffering. Life is full of trials—there’s no escaping that. But here’s the hope: God’s people are refined through hardship. Imagine gold being purified in fire—that’s the kind of transformation God works in the life of a believer.
I’ve always appreciated R.C. Sproul’s analogy using the nursery rhyme about Humpty Dumpty. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put him back together again. The good news for us is that God can.
No matter how deep your fall, no matter how many pieces you feel shattered into, our God—the miracle-worker—can restore you completely. And even better, He doesn’t simply put you back the way you were; He strengthens you, deepens you, and refines you into something infinitely more glorious than before. That’s the privilege of being a Christian. Suffering, pain, and brokenness do not ultimately destroy us—they refine us. They become the very tools God uses to shape us into His image, grow our faith, and prepare us for the life He has called us to.
To Be Holy Is To Be Wholly Devoted
The word holy comes from the Hebrew kadosh, meaning set apart, separated, or cut out. God isn’t merely powerful, wise, or loving—His power, wisdom, and love are holy. That means He is infinitely beyond us, incomparable and unmatched. Exodus 15:11 says:“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?”
Because God is holy, He calls us to be holy. But we will never be transcendent like Him. Our holiness looks different. For us, holiness means devotion. It means being wholly devoted to God—letting Him have every part of our lives: our thoughts, priorities, desires, and affections.
When I was younger, I used to collect stamps and I would cut out the stamps from the envelopes, soak them in water, dry them and then put them into a scrapbook. I cut them out because I fancied them and claimed them as mine. In a far deeper and more profound way, God sets us apart from the world. We are “cut out” and dedicated entirely for His purposes—completely at His disposal.
As You Wish
There’s a story in Scripture that beautifully illustrates devotion. When David longed for water from Bethlehem, three of his mighty men risked their lives to retrieve it. When they returned and offered it to him, David poured it out before the Lord. Why? Because that level of devotion ultimately belonged to God.
True devotion goes beyond rules or commands. If you’ve ever watched The Princess Bride, Wesley repeatedly tells Buttercup, “As you wish.” Those three words reveal the depth of his love. It’s more than compliance—it’s a posture of the heart.
When you deeply love someone, even a sigh or passing wish moves you. You don’t need a command; love compels you. That’s what it means to be holy in your heart. Your greatest joy becomes giving pleasure and honor to God. His desires begin to shape yours. What delights Him begins to delight you.
And this devotion is not one-sided.
Our Lord Jesus showed His uttermost love and devotion for us first. He is the true and better King. Like David’s mighty men, He broke through enemy lines to bring us the water of life—but not at the risk of His life. At the cost of it.
If David refused to drink water obtained through danger because it was too precious, how much more precious is the salvation Christ purchased with His own blood? He did not hesitate to give Himself for us. Holiness, then, is simply our response to His devotion.
Be Holy For I Am Holy
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall—and no earthly power could restore him. But we do not belong to an earthly king. We belong to a holy God who restores what is broken and refines what is weak.
Holiness is not about grim determination or moral perfection. It is about belonging. It is about being set apart for the One who set Himself apart for us. It is about responding to grace with devotion.
Be holy for I am Holy!
My notes from Tim Keller’s sermon on Holiness.
