Unworthy

He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:27 A.W. Tozer said something to the effect that the church has lost its sense of the holiness and majesty of God, and he said this more than 70 years ago. I often think that in our efforts to present Him and His Son Jesus as accessible, welcoming, and loving, we have somehow demystified Him, and removed the awe, wonder, and majesty associated with His glory. The above words, uttered by John the Baptist, are timely for all of us. John was speaking of Jesus, and he certainly had that sense of wonder and of his own unworthiness before Him. Untying the sandals of a visitor was a role reserved for the most lowly of household servants, yet John, who Jesus said that there was never a greater man than Him, did not believe himself worthy of doing even so menial a task in His presence. How much of that kind of humility that was in John is within you and I in our coming before Him? In our day to day relationship with Him and in our corporate gatherings before Him? Have we made Him so familiar, so accessible, that we no longer notice His glory, His majesty, and that He dwells in unapproachable light? I remember the first time I became aware of all this. I was in my first year at Bible college. Some friends and I were talking about drawing nearer to Jesus and what our initial realization would be in that process. I remember hearing myself say, and to my own amazement, that I would realize just how unworthy I was to be so near to Him at all. This insight was given to me by Him and was not of myself. David asked who was man that God took such notice and care with him? I think we in the 21st century church no longer ask that question. It's been replaced by our sense of entitlement. We mistake His welcoming us into His presence with thinking He's obligated to do so. We're blind to the truth that it's only by the blood of Christ that we may come at all, and that without His blood covering us, we would be destroyed by His Holy Light. Chris Tiegreen writes that "Sin is disastrous and grace is precious. Neither should be taken casually." Yet I believe we have. I don't think we really think our sin is all that bad or that His grace is that precious. Our sin would forever keep us from Him were it not for the blood of Christ and His grace that applies it to us. Our sin has made us totally unworthy of Him and the blood of Christ and grace of God are our only means of coming before Him. This should humble us. It should break all our elements of pride and self-sufficiency. Has it done so in you and me? I am so thankful that He welcomes me into His Presence, but may I never lose sight of the infinite cost to Him to do so. May I have burned into my heart and spirit the reality of His majesty, His glory, His holiness. May I never forget that I too, and you as well, are not worthy to come near Him on any level but that of Christ, His blood, and the grace of the Father's forgiveness. May it never cease to humble us, to bring us to our knees. Blessings, Pastor O