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God’s Terrifying Holiness
By J.D. Greear
When you’re in the presence of human greatness, your default reaction is likely fear.
Our desired God is a buddy, a God who warms us when we’re cold. Is he frightening to you? Probably not.
Yes, Jesus is intimate with you. Yes, he’s a friend who sticks closer than a brother. But he’s also holy.
Isaiah records that the angels covered their faces in God’s presence and the pillars trembled in fear (Isaiah 6:2–4). Isaiah himself falls on his face and says, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5 ESV).
When he encountered God, Isaiah’s response was knowing he was unclean, coming undone. His goodness—what he thought held him together, what he thought made him sufficient—was nothing before the holy God.
When God’s presence begins to enter your life, that’s what it feels like. You might compare yourself to others saying, “I’m not as bad as …” or “Everyone is doing it, so it’s not that bad.” You might think you have all you need to justify yourself before God.
But when you see true holiness, all of that falls apart. You see that the standard isn’t one another, it’s God. You see how sick and twisted your heart has become.
Whatever good thing makes you forget you can only be saved by grace is actually the greatest source of your sin. The Apostle Paul says, “For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). Wherever you’re weak, you’ll naturally depend on God. It’s where you’re strong that you’ll forget him.
Reflections
How have you encountered God? Have you had an experience like Isaiah, knowing you were unclean, coming undone before God? What was that like?
Wherever you’re weak, you’ll naturally depend on God. It’s where you’re strong that you’ll forget him. What are some of your weaknesses? Some of your strengths? How can you invite God into those?
Prayer
Confess the ways you’re tempted to justify yourself before God, asking him to help you depend on him and trust his sufficiency in all areas of your life.