As we sat down in the pew at church today, my friend Robert Swanson was up front speaking He was doing a special feature on the servanthood of deacons, and being true to his eccentric self, Robert shared a slide show. But with no slides.
“Here’s Mr. X cutting wood. Next slide. And here is Mr. YZ stacking the wood. Next slide.” Robert pointed to the large blank screens on his left and right. “Next slide. Next slide,” he’d say as he remembered with the audience service done by deacons. It was endearingly odd. It was great!
Changing gears a bit, it was probably just over a year ago I was assisting in a procedure with one of the Mercy pediatricians, Dr. Olayemi. We were deeply discussing our views on society, morality, and religion, and talking about how we as Christians like to put God in nice, tidy, easy boxes. But then Dr. O asked, “But how did the angels describe Him in Isaiah?”
Holy Next slide. Holy Next slide. Holy.
“In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another, “holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6: 1-3)
Holy, holy, holy is really hard to put into a box. Holy, holy, holy is unfathomable.
But, alas, our boxes. Next slide.
God is a stern Judge who will bring justice. Or, He is our Advocate who pleads for mercy. Next slide.
He is our Father. And/or, He is our Friend. Next slide.
He is the God of the Old Testament. Or now, He’s the God of the New Testament. Next slide.
He vehemently hates sin. And, He completely loves the sinner. Next slide.
He is the Law giver. Or, He is Grace. We pick and choose. We can limit His grace in the same way we can cheapen His grace. Our boxes are imperfect. Our boxes don’t show His big picture. In complete reverence, the angels described Him as “holy, holy, holy,” and at the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
Incredible scene to even attempt to imagine. It gives me both gratefulness and assurance, security and wonder, that He is not limited to my boxes and he’s not contained in yours.
To God be the glory, great things He has done. Let the shaking begin and the smoke pour forth.
Our God! Who is He?
Holy Next slide.
Holy Next slide. Holy is He!