God, in his perfect holiness, chooses to commune with imperfect people. It is hard to fathom. Yet he invites us to enter boldly into his throne room of grace. When we do, our perspective shifts, our posture changes, and we take on an attitude of humility.

A man in the Bible named Job experienced this firsthand. After being directly addressed by the Lord for four chapters, Job came to this conclusion:

⁵ In the past I knew only what others had told me,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
⁶ So I am ashamed of all I have said
and repent in dust and ashes.

—Job 42:5-6

Being in the presence of God’s sovereignty and omniscience caused a major shift in Job’s perspective. He was overwhelmingly aware of his position in comparison to the Almighty. It was a sobering realization—one that led to repentance.

Isaiah had a similar experience during a vision where he stood witness to God’s holiness:

“There is no hope for me! I am doomed because every word that passes my lips is sinful, and I live among a people whose every word is sinful. And yet, with my own eyes I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

Isaiah 6:5 (GNT)

During his encounter with God, Isaiah was disturbed by his sinful state. But by God’s grace, he was immediately cleansed, raising his hand to go where God needed.

Like Job and Isaiah, we sometimes need a bold shift in our perspective. We need to be alarmed. We need a reality check. And we need to be cleansed and ready for whatever God has in store.

When we look into the perfect, holy character of our heavenly Father, we have no choice but to stand in awe. In the light of his glory, our human frailty becomes blatantly apparent, prompting us to examine our hearts, and when necessary, repent.

Christ’s work on the cross is a profoundly sacred time for us. In the weeks leading up to Easter, let us gaze into God’s character and be awestruck by his holiness. Let it lead us into repentance and renewal. Praise God that by his grace and perfect love, we can celebrate a risen Savior.

Passage for Prayer

Join us in a prayer of self-examination found in Psalm 139:

Examine me, O God, and know my mind;
test me, and discover my thoughts.
Find out if there is any evil in me
and guide me in the everlasting way.

—Psalm 139:23-24