Is there anything in your life, that you wished you had a higher, more intentional view on? Something you wish you'd taken more seriously or put more time into? Maybe you realize if you had done these things, everything would have fallen into place a lot easier?
For me this thing was my schooling. I could have given it a lot more: had a higher view of it. Maybe later things would have fallen into place better. For my secondary education, I plan to be much more intentional, because it may effect my entire working career.
To me, if there was one thing in our Christian walk that we could view higher and think more critically about, it would be the holiness of God and honouring His power.
We've lost our devotion to knowing Him and His attibutes, specifially, His holiness...or, never had it in the first place.
We tend to be caught up in what God can do, and does indeed do for me and you, that we don't bother searching the scriptures specifically to learn about, and understand Him. “
We see His holiness in the Bible.
We must look at every Bible story with the lens of “this has God's glory manifested in it somewhere. Let's find it and think about it”. I think especially of Old Testament characters and the typical Sunday school stories. Every one has some picture of God and His person in it, and I believe we must train our minds to find it in each one.
Exodus 19:10-12: And the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death.'
The Israelites were not allowed to go near the mountain or touch it or they would be killed. If that's not enough... it was also shaking and there was thunder, fire, and smoke, because the LORD was there.
Isaiah 6:1-5: In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the LORD, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”
The only attribute of God that is exalted to the third degree of repitition is His holiness. In this passage the angels covered their eyes and feet. Angels are sinless. How can we, sinful and unclean beings, casually walk into God’s presence or take His holiness lightly?
Isaiah 52:13-15: See, My Servant will act wisely; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at Him— His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and His form marred beyond human likeness— so He will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.
I love the language of this passage. It speaks to the majestic nature of His holiness and power. “Kings will shut their mouths at Him”, because He is the King of Kings.
Revelation 4:8-11: Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our LORD and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.”
They never cease praising Him. They give glory, honour and thanks to Him.
This is holiness and power we could never completely grasp. But from what we can understand, how can we, who are created in His image, be indifferent to this holiness and majesty?
What happens when we do have a high view of Him?
Having a correct and high view of God, and realizing His holiness is what brought me to salvation. The aformentioned verses, and hearing sermons from Godly men on them, naturally pushed my view of God upward, and continuely knocked me down the notches. I had a newfound honour and a new scope of His glory by truly seeing His perfect and holy nature: this instinctively turned into a correct relationship with Him and proper submission to Him.
We can behave like Christians, but without knowing who He really is or honoring Him as He should be honored, all our efforts are in vain. But what if we learned and studied and yearned to know God and His attributes?
How would our lives be different if we were absolutely gripped by how much higher His ways are than ours?
We would have new insights of His justice and grace. How His justice is perfect and He “does whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3). How true John 3:30 is: “He must increase but I must decrease.”.
His grace will become so much more amazing when we realize where we actually compare to Him.
Our view of ourselves will diminish into complete trust in Him when we realize how much our sin has vexed His spirit and offended His holiness.
Our theology (the study and knowledge of God), must lead to doxology (worship of Him). Therefore, if our theology and understanding of Him is correct, it will lead to correct worship, and a right relationship with Him.
On the other hand, if we worhsip and praise God without correct theology, we really don't know who or what we're worshipping...which makes us partakers in idolatry. We must know Him and see Him for who He truly is!
When we view Him as holy, perfect, and powerful, our lives will echo that in our worship and submission to Him.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8
Sincerely,
Kyle
**Kyle is 19 years old, the brother of Berea. He enjoys cars, cats, and music, specifically playing guitar and bass. He is currently serving the Lord as an intern at Arrowhead Native Bible Center in New Brunswick. He is trusting God for his income, his maintenance, and his future. Be sure to keep him in your prayers!**
For me this thing was my schooling. I could have given it a lot more: had a higher view of it. Maybe later things would have fallen into place better. For my secondary education, I plan to be much more intentional, because it may effect my entire working career.
To me, if there was one thing in our Christian walk that we could view higher and think more critically about, it would be the holiness of God and honouring His power.
We've lost our devotion to knowing Him and His attibutes, specifially, His holiness...or, never had it in the first place.
We tend to be caught up in what God can do, and does indeed do for me and you, that we don't bother searching the scriptures specifically to learn about, and understand Him. “
A correct view of God is essential to have a correct view of everything else” - Paul Washer
We see His holiness in the Bible.
We must look at every Bible story with the lens of “this has God's glory manifested in it somewhere. Let's find it and think about it”. I think especially of Old Testament characters and the typical Sunday school stories. Every one has some picture of God and His person in it, and I believe we must train our minds to find it in each one.
Exodus 19:10-12: And the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death.'
The Israelites were not allowed to go near the mountain or touch it or they would be killed. If that's not enough... it was also shaking and there was thunder, fire, and smoke, because the LORD was there.
Isaiah 6:1-5: In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the LORD, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”
The only attribute of God that is exalted to the third degree of repitition is His holiness. In this passage the angels covered their eyes and feet. Angels are sinless. How can we, sinful and unclean beings, casually walk into God’s presence or take His holiness lightly?
Isaiah 52:13-15: See, My Servant will act wisely; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at Him— His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and His form marred beyond human likeness— so He will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.
I love the language of this passage. It speaks to the majestic nature of His holiness and power. “Kings will shut their mouths at Him”, because He is the King of Kings.
Revelation 4:8-11: Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our LORD and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.”
They never cease praising Him. They give glory, honour and thanks to Him.
This is holiness and power we could never completely grasp. But from what we can understand, how can we, who are created in His image, be indifferent to this holiness and majesty?
What happens when we do have a high view of Him?
Having a correct and high view of God, and realizing His holiness is what brought me to salvation. The aformentioned verses, and hearing sermons from Godly men on them, naturally pushed my view of God upward, and continuely knocked me down the notches. I had a newfound honour and a new scope of His glory by truly seeing His perfect and holy nature: this instinctively turned into a correct relationship with Him and proper submission to Him.
We can behave like Christians, but without knowing who He really is or honoring Him as He should be honored, all our efforts are in vain. But what if we learned and studied and yearned to know God and His attributes?
How would our lives be different if we were absolutely gripped by how much higher His ways are than ours?
We would have new insights of His justice and grace. How His justice is perfect and He “does whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3). How true John 3:30 is: “He must increase but I must decrease.”.
His grace will become so much more amazing when we realize where we actually compare to Him.
Our view of ourselves will diminish into complete trust in Him when we realize how much our sin has vexed His spirit and offended His holiness.
Our theology (the study and knowledge of God), must lead to doxology (worship of Him). Therefore, if our theology and understanding of Him is correct, it will lead to correct worship, and a right relationship with Him.
On the other hand, if we worhsip and praise God without correct theology, we really don't know who or what we're worshipping...which makes us partakers in idolatry. We must know Him and see Him for who He truly is!
When we view Him as holy, perfect, and powerful, our lives will echo that in our worship and submission to Him.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8
Sincerely,
Kyle
**Kyle is 19 years old, the brother of Berea. He enjoys cars, cats, and music, specifically playing guitar and bass. He is currently serving the Lord as an intern at Arrowhead Native Bible Center in New Brunswick. He is trusting God for his income, his maintenance, and his future. Be sure to keep him in your prayers!**
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