Not being able to see a Holy God

Continuing on from my last post…

If we cannot see God and so appreciate his holiness compared to our sinfulness, how can we ever appreciate how terrible sin is? Before I answer that let me say that a few men are permitted to see but a minute glimpse of God’s holiness in order to see the sinfulness of sin. Two examples that immediately spring to mind are Job and Isaiah.

There are other things that give us a clue how terrible sin is and if you sit and cogitate on this you are bound to say, “Hey, you’re right!” (I like the word “cogitate”.) I am not going to give an exhaustive list but mention a few obvious things (and not necessarily in order of importance but as they come to mind).

Firstly, the Bible tells us from cover to cover. Here are some verses:

• For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23)
• All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (as discussed yesterday) (John 3:16)
• The Son of Man will commission His angels, and they will gather out of His Kingdom all causes of sin and all who violate His laws (Matthew 13:41)
• Or if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out. It would be better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God half-blind than remain in possession of two eyes and be thrown into Gehenna (Mark 9:47)
• Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death (James 1:15)
• Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (Genesis 6:5).
• But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear (Isaiah 59:2)

Secondly, God has poured out His judgement on sin, individually, nationally and globally. Some examples:

• Adam and Eve were judged and the whole world is now under a terrible curse because of their sin.
• Cain came under a terrible personal judgement for killing his brother Abel and for his rebellion against God.
• The whole world was judged and condemned by a flood where only Noah and his family were saved.
• Sodom and Gomorra (and other cities of the plains) were judged because of their sin and God destroyed them.
• The Caananites were judged by God and He commanded Israel to destroy them utterly, man woman and children.
• Israel was judged by God at various times and by various means.

There are other examples but these suffice to show that God has judged and will judge sin in the future as He has warned and promised.

Thirdly, God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sin so that whoever believes in Him would not come under judgement but be forgiven. Just as we are unable to really appreciate how terrible our sin is, so we are unable to appreciate how costly a sacrifice this was on God’s part.

It was the most significant act of heaven among men. It was the most costly thing that God could do to save sinners. It is the most remarkable token of love. It was personal and costly on God’s part. Woe the man who belittles and rejects such a costly gift. Unimaginable joy for the one who finds this treasure.

I’ve written enough for one sitting even though there are thousands of things that could be said. Until next time, so long.