Holy

“What comes into your mind when you think about God?” In her book, Holier Than Thou, Jackie Hill Perry writes, “The answer, if not restrained by self-deception, would tell you a lot about yourself. And potentially, how much of yourself is in love with a lie. What we think about God and what we believe about God don’t always resemble, although we’d like them to.” We forget we humans are made in God’s image, and imagine He is instead made in ours. But we are wrong. By nature, God is holy, and of all the attributes of God, this is the one we may be most prone to forget.

In the opening scene of Revelation, John is given a vision of Jesus Christ and told to transcribe letters to seven churches. Now, in chapter four, he sees an open door to heaven before him, and Jesus beckons him to come. Immediately, in the Spirit, John finds himself in the throne room of heaven. Just as when he first saw Jesus, John once again can only use similes to describe his experience. What John sees is not heaven as it one day will be, but heaven as it is. In heaven- yesterday, today and forever- the cherubim surround the throne and never stop saying “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is and who is to come.”

God’s holiness, is not a single attribute, rather it defines who He is. R.C. Sproul says “The word holy calls attention to all that God is. It reminds us that His love is holy love. His justice is holy justice. His mercy is holy mercy. His knowledge is holy knowledge. His spirit is Holy Spirit.” None of His attributes are stained by self-interest. Because He is holy, we can wholly trust in His goodness, His faithfulness, His Word, and His salvation. Because He is holy, we can wholly depend on Him. Friends, do we wholly trust Him with our lives, our loves, our futures? Is there anyone other than a holy God in whom we could safely trust?

In light of a God who is holy, holy, holy, is it any wonder the angels spend all of eternity ascribing worth to Him? He is worthy! He is so very worthy! May we find refuge in the holiness of God, and worship Him today and always with the whole-hearted devotion He deserves.

Natalie

I highly recommend reading a book about God’s holiness. You will be changed! My two favorites are The Holiness of God by R.C Sproul and Holier Than Thou by Jackie Hill Perry.