God is Holy By Howard Rich

What is reminding you each day that God is holy?

By Howard Rich ~

My family’s cat wakes me up just before sunrise wanting me to feed her and then take her outside on our back porch. After spending a few minutes out on the porch, I usher her back inside so I can go for a walk and watch the sunrise over a little lake in our neighborhood. There are many reasons I enjoy watching the sunrise, but one of the biggest reasons is it continually reminds me that God is holy and He is the Creator.

Romans 12: 2 reads, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” In Romans 12:1, Paul states that disciples are to present themselves to God as a living sacrifice, unblemished, holy, and suitable before God. These two verses are calls to a metamorphosis for the disciple; what was is no longer, therefore, the believer is something new. The words in these verses describe a new creature that looks different, and stands in contrast to the blemished and unacceptable offerings to God.

Romans 12:1-2 makes perfect sense to me in light of 2 Samuel 6:2-11, which tells the story of King David bringing the Ark of the Covenant from Baale-Judah to Jerusalem. In the process of transporting the Ark, the cart became unstable and a man named Uzzah touched the Ark in an effort to keep it from falling over. The text explains God struck Uzzah for approaching Him in irreverence, and further reveals how King David was angry with God for the “outburst against Uzzah” (2 Samuel 6:8). It is easy to find God’s reaction to Uzzah confusing, unless we understand God demands holiness. On the surface, Uzzah appeared to be doing the right and noble thing; he wanted to protect the Ark. The story demonstrates how disciples must approach a holy God.

Uzzah’s fate is an incredible reminder of how I need to humbly and reverently enter into God’s presence on a daily basis, which is another reason I enjoy watching sunrises. When I slow down long enough to reflect on God’s holiness, my eyes are opened to the reality of God’s sovereignty, and I realize how silly it is for me to think I own what God has allowed me to manage for Him. What I find so frustrating and maddening is how quickly I can convince myself that I control what is in my possession and jump back into an owner mode of living and decision-making.

What are the things in your life God uses to remind you of His holiness?

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