HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

 

What does Holy mean? Have we really ever seen anything or anyone that is truly Holy? I think not, because if we had, we would never be the same again. I truly can’t even imagine how the seraphim feel that have the privilege of surrounding Gods throne and crying out “Holy, Holy, Holy”. Some would say, “your kidding, right”. But I say, no I’m not. You could only make such a statement because of ignorance of the Bible, we’ve never seen true Holiness. I haven’t but one day, I will stand before Him and I will with every fiber of my being know how truly “Holy” God is.

We Christians seem to take for granted Gods grace. We live in a very haphazard way. But Peter tells us we should be holy like God.

1 Peter 1:14-16 (ESV) (Please read the whole chapter)

14. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15. but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16. since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

This is not a request, that word “obedient” has a meaning. It’s our duty to live a holy life so unsaved people can be convicted of their sin and come to know God like we have. If they don’t see us living for God in a holy way, then who will show them the way? I pray you will ask God to give you a glimpse of His Holiness, so you may have a healthy fear of Him. Look here at Isaiah 6:1-7 and see what happens when Isaiah came close to God’s throne. He says “Wow is me, for I am undone”. Why? His sinfulness.

 Isaiah 6:1-7 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)

1. In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

Heres what the New Testament has to say when John was given the Revelation of Jesus. He sees the same thing Isaiah saw. But there is a difference, John doesn’t cry out “wow is me”, because his sin had already been cleansed by the blood of Jesus but Isaiah was under the Old Covenant, still being reminded of his sinfulness. 

Revelation 4:8 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter) 

8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

If we were in their place, we would be saying the same as they are saying. 

What made the difference between Isaiah and John? Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead brought into reality the New Covenant that had been prophesied about. Read Jeremiah 31 and Hebrews 8.

Jeremiah 31:31-33 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)

31. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

33. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Hebrews 8:8 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter) 

8. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

That new covenant happened when Jesus rose from the dead and that’s why we can now do what Hebrews 4:16 says. It says those of us who have been cleansed of our sin by the blood of Jesus can come boldly to the throne of God.

Hebrews 4:16 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)

16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Once we have this understanding it’s easy to see how Isaiah 57:15 becomes ours, that God will dwell “with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit”. But God is Holy and He has chosen those that exhibit these characteristics. His chose, our salvation. 

Isaiah 57:15  (ESV) (Please read the whole chapter) 

15. For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
    who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
    and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
    and to revive the heart of the contrite”.

It is past time for us to get our act together and live a life of holiness to our Lord. He will help us to do it if we ask Him. It is our duty as a Christian to “be Holy as He is Holy”.