The Holiness of God

Please read prayerfully through Ezekiel 23.

I have witnessed, almost as if from standing afar off, my own slow, steady drift from my first love—the Lord. The very thought is absolutely terrifying to me, but much to my sorrow and shame I find that my sin has a very powerful, sensual draw.

Since I obviously do not have a clear grasp on the vileness of my own nature, I have repeatedly asked the Lord to reveal to me His holiness, His purity.

Last night, I again earnestly sought the Lord with my petition. Oddly, I was reminded of a time I happened upon Ezekiel 23. I remember quickly closing and placing the Bible far from me because I was horrified to hear such language being spoken from the lips of a holy God. I had difficulty “justifying” the need of such expression—from God (as if God need justify Himself to anyone)! The imagery was too horrible for me to even read then, and it is still difficult today. Now, I understand why.

Ezekiel 23 is a graphic word picture of how God views sin—our sin and idolatry. He expresses His hatred of sin in the most vulgar of terms. Terms we can fully identify with because they describe in great detail our rebellion and rejection of Almighty God.

True, these words were spoken to God’s chosen people, the divided lands of Israel and Judah, but can I dare claim that my own sin is any less vile?

The truth is my sin is worse because I am called by the name of Christ. I am His bride—brought at a very high price with the precious blood of the Sinless One— Jesus Christ, the only begotton Son of the One Living and True God!

God did not answer my pleas to see His holiness, at least not in the way I supposed. Rather, God did a far, far better thing. He gave me the grace gift of showing me the filthiness of my own sin.

Praise be to His Holy Name!