SINNERS BEFORE A HOLY GOD
One called to another and said, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." Isa. 6:3, R.S.V.
I was in the ninth grade when my father arranged to meet Billy Graham. Knowing that I was thinking of becoming a minister, my father assumed that contact with an evangelist of such stature might inspire me. Following Dr. Graham's crusade meeting, as we stood in the crowd pressing near him, waiting for a chance to shake his hand, I can remember feeling great apprehension. How does one act in the presence of an important person? I was sure my voice would crack. When he finally grasped my hand, what a relief it was to find how genuinely interested he was in making me feel at ease and valued in his presence.
If we feel apprehension about standing in the presence of important humans, how should we feel about standing in the presence of our magnificent, holy, glorious, sovereign God? If the holy angels continually celebrate His holiness and show Him great respect, how should we acknowledge sinners feel about being in His presence? Isn't there good cause for a great chasm between us?
Some have suggested that His infinite holiness is intended to keep us sinners "at bay," intimidated by such grand righteousness, lest we presume to step lightly into His presence. Such holiness would certainly frighten sinners. But would it ever draw sinners? Would it ever make us glad that He is stepping across the chasm to be near us? Would Emmanuel--"God with us"--be heard as good news, or as a signal for alarm?
Jesus came to reveal to us every aspect of the Father's glory that was important for us to know. Yet it did not intimidate, frighten, or repel us. For God's glory does not center in His consuming power, it centers in the qualities of His character. And His character is compellingly attractive.
Jesus came to show that the gulf between us and our Father is not of His choosing, nor does He wish for it to remain. It is true that God stationed an angel with a flaming sword at the gate of the garden to bar the way for Adam and Eve to return. But this was to prevent them from thinking that a mere physical return to God's presence--short of a complete, informed return of their loyalties--would solve the sin problem.
One called to another and said, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." Isa. 6:3, R.S.V.
I was in the ninth grade when my father arranged to meet Billy Graham. Knowing that I was thinking of becoming a minister, my father assumed that contact with an evangelist of such stature might inspire me. Following Dr. Graham's crusade meeting, as we stood in the crowd pressing near him, waiting for a chance to shake his hand, I can remember feeling great apprehension. How does one act in the presence of an important person? I was sure my voice would crack. When he finally grasped my hand, what a relief it was to find how genuinely interested he was in making me feel at ease and valued in his presence.
If we feel apprehension about standing in the presence of important humans, how should we feel about standing in the presence of our magnificent, holy, glorious, sovereign God? If the holy angels continually celebrate His holiness and show Him great respect, how should we acknowledge sinners feel about being in His presence? Isn't there good cause for a great chasm between us?
Some have suggested that His infinite holiness is intended to keep us sinners "at bay," intimidated by such grand righteousness, lest we presume to step lightly into His presence. Such holiness would certainly frighten sinners. But would it ever draw sinners? Would it ever make us glad that He is stepping across the chasm to be near us? Would Emmanuel--"God with us"--be heard as good news, or as a signal for alarm?
Jesus came to reveal to us every aspect of the Father's glory that was important for us to know. Yet it did not intimidate, frighten, or repel us. For God's glory does not center in His consuming power, it centers in the qualities of His character. And His character is compellingly attractive.
Jesus came to show that the gulf between us and our Father is not of His choosing, nor does He wish for it to remain. It is true that God stationed an angel with a flaming sword at the gate of the garden to bar the way for Adam and Eve to return. But this was to prevent them from thinking that a mere physical return to God's presence--short of a complete, informed return of their loyalties--would solve the sin problem.
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