By Not Known
Today’s Bible reading confronts us with the holiness of God. The prophet Isiah thought he was in a temple of doomwhen he ‘saw’ God in a vision (Isa 6:5). This doom arose from his awareness of the vast gap between him and God.
The gap between people and God is a reflection of his holiness. The essence of his holiness is that God is different from us. Consider these differences between God and people: creator/ creature; immortal/mortal; unlimited/ limited; eternal/ temporal; pure/ sinful
Because of thisgap is so big, God is hidden to the human eye, for we are unworthy to look on him, Thus Modes hid his face when God appeared to him in the burning bush (Ex. 3: 6) and was only ever allowed to see God’s back (Ex. 33: 18- 23). For their part, the Israelites could not even touch the mountain of God’s presence or hear his voice, lest they die (Ex. 19: 12- 13, 21- 24; 20: 18- 20)
It is aright that we have a healthy sense of the holiness of God and treat him worshipfully, for his is God and we are not. This begins with making the whole of life an act of worship, living in the deepest respect for God. Likewise our church services should reflect a respect for god that comes from the heart, whatever our style of worship.
An understanding of God’s holiness and hidden nature makes us more gratefulfor Jesus. In Jesus we are able to see God’s glory, for he explains or exegete God to us (Jn 1:14 &s; 18). Jesus is God’s image or icon (Col 5: 15) and the radiance of his glory and exact representation of his being (Heb 1: 1-3). This is also what God designed us for in creation (Gen 1: 26) and it is his destiny for Christian believers as we are re-created in Jesus (Rom 8: 29).
What is next for an unholy people before a holy God? God covered Isaiah’s unworthiness by removing his guilt and atoning for his sin (vs 7). Likewise, God provides atonement and forgiveness for us through Jesus (Col 1: 13- 14). This provision of God lies at the heart of the gospel.
But look what happens the. Isaiah moves from God’s forgiveness to God’s service (v 8). That’s the patten for us too. A sense of the gap between God and us should prompt worship and a sense of unworthiness. And then a sense of gratitude for the grace of forgiveness should prompt availability for service. Are we worshipful? Are we grateful? Are we serving?