Isaias 6:5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among
a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of hosts.”
In the movie The Chronicles of Narnia, all the creatures respected Aslan, the Lion. They were full of
praise for Aslan’s strength and power. Susan, one of the main characters, asked if Aslan was a man. The
beaver replied that he was not—he was a lion. Susan then asked, “Is he… quite safe?” To which the
beaver responded, “Who said anything about safe? Of course, he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He is the King,
I tell you.”
Aslan, being a lion, is naturally dangerous. However, for those who are with him and under his
protection, they are secure because of his good nature. Aslan is a good king who has the power to
protect his subjects, and they are grateful to serve him.
Similarly, as Christians, we are grateful when we recognize that our good God is also holy. God’s holiness
is not merely a visual display of shining light; rather, it means that He is entirely unique and different
from us. To approach Him in a state less than holy would result in death. The angels proclaim this by
declaring day and night, “Holy! Holy! Holy!”
Consider Isaiah’s reaction when he encountered God. In Isaiah 6:5, Isaiah immediately exclaimed his
unworthiness. He suddenly saw himself as unclean, living among unclean people. How did he come to
this realization? It happened when he came into the presence of God’s holiness.
For the unbeliever, encountering God’s holiness on the last day will be terrifying because it will reveal
their utter unworthiness. Why? Because no unholy person can ever please God. Without being in Christ,
there is nothing left but to recognize that God’s holiness is a warning and a danger for those who do not
believe.
Think of a well-compensated employee who can buy almost anything he desires. Yet, when he stands
before the CEO of his company, he realizes that he is not on the same level as the CEO. In comparison,
he feels poor.
In the same way, anyone who stands before God’s holiness will realize that they are utterly unworthy
because of their sin. God’s holiness actually reveals our spiritual poverty, making it clear that we cannot
stand before Him on our own merit.
However, for the believer in Christ, God’s holiness becomes a source of protection. Why? Because the
believer is covered by the holy righteousness of Jesus Christ, which atones for a multitude of sins. God
would not allow any sin tarnish His holy people, bought by the blood of His Son, Jesus. That is why we
are now free to approach God—not because of our own works, but because of the interceding, finished,
and acceptable work of Christ.
