Lent Day 4–Meeting our Maker

Have you ever had a mountaintop moment—a time when you knew God’s presence and His power in your midst?    What was your response: joy, awe, excitement…fear? 

Many people in the Bible have responded with holy fear when they encountered God because they suddenly realized how sinful they were.  Isaiah famously said, “Woe to me…I am ruined!” in Isaiah 6:5.  In Luke 5:8, Simon Peter said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 

The closer we get to God, the more we see ourselves in our sinful state.  In Exodus 19 and 20, Israel was told to be prepared to meet their God.  They had prior warning (Exodus 19:9).  Couldn’t they have been totally prepared?  They had two days to wash their clothes—and they did.  They set up barricades to keep themselves from touching the mountain in Sinai’s desert.  Done.  Check!

When the Lord descended upon Mt. Sinai in fire and billowing smoke, the mountain trembled.  The people trembled.  They received the Law with fear and trembling.  Faced with a holy God and His Law, they were afraid for their lives, so they told Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen.  But do not have God speak to us or we will die” (Exodus 20:19).

 Moses was one of them.  By comparison with an equal, they weren’t quite so afraid…or appalled at how sinful they were.  Have you ever had a white shirt that once you wore it, no matter how effective the laundry method, strong the detergent, how much bleach you used, that shirt was never brilliant white again?  Hanging amongst many not-so-white-anymore shirts, one shirt doesn’t look so bad, but buy a new one, hang it on a hanger, and all the old shirts dim by comparison.

Jesus is God’s equal and yet He was one of us.  On a high mountain (Matthew 17:1-6 and Mark 9:2-8), Jesus was transfigured, visibly holy and brilliant.  The disciples heard God speak and they were terrified.  When they lifted their eyes, no one was there…except Jesus. 

Are we terrified at our sinfulness?

Do we treat Jesus as a mere equal?

Let us consider Jesus’ holiness and ask, “How might I prepare myself to meet Him in all His glory?”