Reflections at the Summit: A Summit of Holiness

 Reflections at the Summit

Week Three

A Summit of Holiness

Focus Text: Exodus 20

Bible Reading: 2nd Thessalonians 3-1st Timothy 6

      Our third mountain summit takes us to the base of one of Scripture's most famous mountain's, Sinai.  The Israelites had been traveling through the wilderness for around three months and had already lived through some miraculous events.  But their movement ceased as they came to the base of Sinai , they became stationary.  They would remain stationary at the base of this mountain for months.  But why?  Why stop here?  What was God's ultimate purpose?  The purpose begins to be revealed in Exodus 19:18-25.  God invites the people of Israel to gather at the base of the mountain  and He would set His presence upon it. It is during this time that God calls His servant Moses up to receive the Ten Commandments.  I think it's worth noting that these are not suggestions, but commandments.  I think it's also world noting that these basic ten commandments have never changed.  God has never taken them back or said they were dated.  These ten commandments showcase God's holiness, His perfection.  The concept of Holiness means to be without stain or blemish and the Bible makes it clear that there is only one who is perfectly righteous, and that is God.  The Bible overwhelmingly provides us with evidence of God's perfection, that He is without error, mistake, or sin.  This is clearly seen in Isaiah chapter six when the angels give us triune "holy, holy, holy" to God.  I think it's unique that this is the only attribute of God that is mentioned in triunity.  We never read in the Scriptures that God is love, love, love, nor do we see the Word saying God is mercy, mercy, mercy.  We know He's those things but for whatever reason the holiness of God is what is emphasized.

      I'm not an old fashioned legalistic preacher, but I believe that holiness is still pertinent today.  One pastor once said I would rather preach on God's love then God's holiness.  That statement is an oxymoron.  You can't have God's love without His holiness, nor His holiness without His love.  To sacrifice one is the sacrifice the other.  Instead of gaining one attribute of God you end up without either!  I think the reason why God's holiness seems hard to preach is that it seems to make God unapproachable.  He's no longer this 'buddy deity' that will turn a blind eye to your sin.  God's holiness might be beyond our full understanding BUT it doesn't make God unapproachable.  The holiness of God keeps us in awe of Him who in resides in unending light.  The holiness of God helps us to understand His greatness.  God's holiness is not a barrier that keeps us from Him.  God in His holiness invited Moses to come to the mountain summit, God in His holiness invited Isaiah to say "here am I, send me", God in His holiness sent His Son to become the way of salvation for us.  No, God's holiness is not a wall to separate, but a door of invitation.

Reflections on the Road:
1st Peter 1:6 tells us that we are supposed to be holy because God is holy.  If we agree theologically that God is holy but do not allow His holiness to penetrate our life then we have not truly grasped God's holiness.  Pursue holiness, scratch that, pursue He who is perfectly holy.