Mostly, I am glad for the informality of the society in
which I live. 30 years ago, a white
shirt, jacket, and tie were ‘the rule’ for office and pulpit. I now wear my blue
jeans and cowboy boots even on Sunday mornings. Mostly titles and honorifics
are a thing of the past. I like being more approachable, the first name basis,
that we now enjoy. There is, however, an area of concern. Our casual interaction
with one another spills over into our relationship with God and the fear of the LORD is too often lost on us
when we rob God of His majesty, imagining Him to be tame and safe. Is He?
When the people of God were on their way to the Promised Land,
they made a stop at Mt. Sinai, where God met Moses to give the Law. It was a
terrifying encounter with the Holy One. "On
the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick
cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the
camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai
was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke
billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled
violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses
spoke and the voice of God answered him." (Exodus 19:16-19, NIV)
If you are ready to remind me that we don’t live at Mt.
Sinai any longer, that we are brought, by
Jesus, into the Presence of God, I will not argue. Jesus has opened the way to
knowing God, beyond the old ways, by presenting Himself as our sacrifice and
tearing down the curtain between ordinary people and the Holy of Holies. Yet, He remains the Holy God of Glory and we approach
Him in confidence, with reverence. The
inspired Word teaches us that we are not cowering under the dread that came
with the Law, but we are worshipping a God Who remains ‘the great I AM.’
Read this text prayerfully. "You have not come to a mountain that can be
touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking
words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded:
“If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am
trembling with fear.” But you have come to Mount
Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. … At that time his voice shook
the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth
but also the heavens.” The words “once more”
indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what
cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore,
since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and
awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12)
We make a costly mistake when we decide that our God is “the
Big Guy in the sky.” Jesus is our Brother, He offers us
love, and there is ‘no more condemnation.’
Yet,
He remains the Almighty. Let’s
not confuse true reverence with politeness or religious form. God reveals
Himself as our Father so we will come to Him in conversational prayer with love.
We need not use the “Thee’s and Thou’s” of another era as we address Him. That is
not what He desires. The true fear of the Lord is shown in our deep humility,
in our unquestioning faith, in our quick obedience. For all of our love of the
informal, there is a need to ponder His
majesty so that we will offer adoration, open our hearts in honest confession,
and make petitions that rest on His amazing power to act in ways that are
beyond our imagination.
This holy, majestic God comes to live in you and me, the Spirit
making us His holy temples. Are you living in ways that are worthy of Him? "Or
don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in
you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought
you with a high price. So you must honor
God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NLT)
When was the last time you sat in the Presence of the Lord and
sensed His awesomeness, falling silent, or even moved to tears? I make no argument for turning God into a
remote, unapproachable Person. Jesus Christ loves us. He walks with us. The Holy
Spirit comforts us. Yet, we need a real awe which Proverbs reminds us is the
fountainhead of wisdom! "The fear of
the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." Let us not forget that the
same Jesus who held children in his arms, who extended forgiveness to an
adulterous woman, and who fed hungry crowds, is also revealed in this fearsome
imagery - "in a robe and gold
breastplate, hair a blizzard of white, Eyes pouring fire-blaze, both feet
furnace-fired bronze, His voice a cataract, right hand holding the Seven Stars,
His mouth a sharp-biting sword, his face a perigee sun." (Revelation
1:13-16, The Message) When John saw this vision he reports "I fell at his feet as dead."
(Revelation 1:17, NLT) Jesus touched John and told him not to be overcome with
terror!
Here is a word from the Word. "O LORD, our Lord, how
majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the
heavens. … what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalm 8:4, NIV)
Abba, (Heavenly Father)
how I thank You that You tell me of Your love.
I am overwhelmed with
the thought that You choose to bring me near.
Teach me to love You
acceptably, to revere You even as I know You as my Father.
Move me, with the knowledge
of Your Holy Majesty, to trust You fully,
To obey You readily,
to live with deep assurance in days of uncertainty.
In the Name of Jesus.
Amen.
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