The Holiness of God

 

⁵ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
     did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
     ⁷ but made himself nothing,
     taking the very nature of a servant,
     being made in human likeness.
     ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
     he humbled himself
     and became obedient to death—
     even death on a cross!
⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
     and gave him the name that is above every name,
     ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
     in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
     ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
     to the glory of God the Father.

—The words of the Apostle Paul from Philippians 2:5-11

 

Looking back on the years while you were growing into adulthood, do you remember how your mom and dad were always trying to teach you things? Almost every day, your mom or dad, or both of them, would try to teach you something that would help you become the kind of boy or girl you ought to be.

For example, I imagine that mom and dad consistently taught each of you—and it took quite some time—to say “please,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome.” When you asked someone for something, mom and dad taught you to always say “please.” Then, when someone gave you something, mom and dad taught you to say “thank you.” And, they also taught you that when someone says “thank you” to you, you should respond by saying “you’re welcome.”

You learned that “please,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome” were part of what mom and dad called “manners.” And, one of the things that marked a well-behaved boy or girl was a display of good manners. That’s part of the reason why mom and dad insisted that you learn to say “please,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome.”

Did you realize that when you enter the presence of a King, there is a certain kind of “manners.” that you must display in order to show that you understand the King is in the room? That’s right. You can’t just march into the room and say, “Hi, King!” Or, at least you can’t do that and expect the King to think well of you.

When people enter the King’s throne room, those people must keep their heads bowed. And, when they reach the throne, they must kneel to show the King proper respect. The King has earned the right to be treated this way because, well, after all, he is the King.

In Revelation 4 the Bible tells us about a great day, coming in the future, when all of us will enter the throne room of heaven and approach the God of the universe. The Bible tells us that on that day, God’s throne will have a rainbow above it. God’s throne be surrounded by 24 other thrones and on those thrones will be 24 elders dressed in white who will have crowns of gold on their heads. Thunder and lightning will radiate from God’s throne.

The Bible also tells us that in front of God’s throne will be seven lamp stands and a sea like crystal glass. And, right in the center, near the throne, will be four creatures. One will look like a lion. One will look like an ox. One will have a face like a man. And, one will look like a flying eagle. These four creatures will have eyes all over them and each creature will have six wings. Over and over again, the creatures will say: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.”

The Bible also tells us, that as the four creatures begin to praise God, the 24 elders will stand up from their thrones, bow down on their knees before God, take off their gold crowns, and lay those crowns in front of God’s throne. Then, all together, the 24 elders will 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.

Now that’s a pretty amazing word picture of what it will be like on that great day in heaven.

You see, God is worthy of all that attention and praise because He is Holy. And, it is the Holiness of God that motivates us to worship Him by devoting our lives to please Him in the way we live, and to serve Him with all of our hearts.

Will you pray with me?

Thank You, God, for being Holy. Thank You for loving me and sending your Son, Jesus to be my Savior. Help me to learn how to live my life in a way that pleases You. I praise You, God, because You are Holy. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

_{Copyright © 2011 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}