I am sitting in a meeting and the whole group is praying. As we go around the room praying I just can’t get my mind off of one thing. I try praying for the things the others are praying for but my mind keeps coming back to this one fact, “I am beyond unworthy to be conversing with the one true God.” I echo Paul’s thoughts, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25). As I look through Scripture at who God is and then look through Scripture at who I am, I just am overwhelmed by the grace of God. Do we take this grace for granted? Do we approach God without any fear or reverence of who He is?
Ezekiel 1:26-28 shines some glorifying light on the glory of God:
26 And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. 27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.
Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
The description of the glory of God. The glory of God is so great that whenever Ezekiel saw it, he fell on his face in reverence. He fell on his face because he was fearful for his life.
Isaiah 6:1-5 gives another amazing picture of God:
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
In both of these passages (Ezekiel and Isaiah), God is sitting on a throne. He is sitting on a throne because he is ruler of the universe. Beyond just being ruler, he is ruler because he is the creator of it all. In fact, the whole earth is full of his glory because His creation was “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
This description gives an image of a very big God. The train of his robe points to the end of his robe (towards the bottom) which filled the temple. Whenever He spoke, the foundations shook. What was Isaiah’s response? Isaiah is more detailed in his response as it gives Isaiah’s motivation; Isaiah fears for his life whenever he places his eyes on God. He fears for his life because he is “a man of unclean lips”. Isaiah is a sinner and whenever he sees God, the depths of his sin is revealed to him. Isaiah comes to the conclusion that he is worthy of nothing more than death.
Revelation 4 (yes the entire chapter) must be read. The Apostle John is the one who is having this vision from God and is also the author of Revelation.
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature waslike a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
There are so many things to point out here. The description of God is beyond comprehension. It is as if John couldn’t find the words and the only things he knew of that could come close were valuable gems. God is so glorious and as we see in both Isaiah and Revelation, God is holy, holy, holy and so worthy of our praise. The twenty-four elders sitting around his throne fall to their faces in response to the praise God is receiving and continue in that praise. They throw the crowns on their heads at His feet. He is worthy of all of our praise and all that we have. God is the reason that we “exist and were created”. Praise God for His grace.
It’s more than obvious that God is worthy of all glory and honor. What about man? What about me? Let’s dive into the depths of our depravity and sinfulness. It’s a really uncomfortable thing to do, but it must be done.
Paul touches on this topic in Romans 5:20-21, “20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. What does this mean? Paul answers the first response of the sinners listening in the next chapter. This does not mean that we should go on sinning so grace can abound all the more. However, it does mean that I can reflect on the sinner that I have been and be astonished at the amount of grace that God has bestowed on me through Jesus Christ.
Think on a few Bible stories and realize the true sinners that humanity is. God destroyed the earth in a global flood in Genesis because of unrighteousness. God sent His chosen people into exile for 70 years because of unrighteousness. God caused His people to wonder the wilderness for 40 years because of unrighteousness. God destroyed Sodom and Gommorah by fire because of unrighteousness. God caused a couple to die in Acts because of unrighteousness. God has had to impart judgment on humanity since humanity was created because of the blatant sinfulness of people. That sinfulness has not stopped…it continues on. I have plenty of evidence in my life as I’m sure you do as well.
However, in all of these stories, God showed grace. God destroyed the earth in a global flood but allowed for Noah and his family to survive (because Noah was found righteous) which allowed for humanity to continue to exist. God send His chosen people into exile for 70 years because of unrighteousness but persistantly sent prophets to push for repentance so He didn’t have to. Also, throughout the prophecies of judgment, God continually reminds Israel that they are His people and restoration will come. God cause His people to wonder in the wilderness for 40 years because of unrighteousness but He delivered on His promises and took them to the promised land afterwards. God also provided food, water and protection while they were wondering in the wilderness. God destroyed Sodom and Gommorah because of their unrighteousness but not before getting Lot and his family out first. God caused the couple to die in Acts because of unrighteousness but not before giving them an opportunity to confess the truth and repent. God is gracious.
The pinnacle of His grace was found whenever the sinfulness of man resulted in the death of a perfect savior to die on a cross. My sin and your sin resulted in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, dying on the cross of calvary and being temporarily seperated from the Father as He took on the sins of the world. I can’t even imagine. Now, I, as a redeemed sinner because of grace, can approach the throne of grace with confidence. I can stand before the almighty without crying out, “Woe is me, for I am a man with unclean lips”. I have been forgiven by grace through faith. What I can’t get passed is God’s grace to such an undeserving individual. I may be able to approach the throne of grace with confidence, but I will do my best to never take that for granted. I am a man who owes all that I am to the God who sits on that throne. I am a man who will fear the Lord in reverence and do my best to honor God in my thoughts and speech. God is worthy of it all and so much more. Be greatful for the truth of the gospel and what results. Live a life that is pleasing to the Lord, worthy of Him. Obey His commands because He has given us the freedom to do so.
