Christian Writers Circle

My First Encounter with God’s Holiness

by Brenda D. Flowers

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, 

Who was and is and is to come!(Revelation 8b, NKJV)

When I was a young child, I often thought about how great and wonderful God is. I loved nature and intuitively realized there had to be a God who created everything. His works to me were amazing! I questioned how anyone could not believe in God if they took the time to look around to see nature’s intricacies. 

The first vivid memory I have of recognizing the holiness of God was when I was about 10 years old. I participated in a children’s choir at the church I attended in Cincinnati, Ohio. One special Sunday, all the choirs, dressed in flowing choir robes, entered the sanctuary singing, “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! ”  a well-known hymn written by Reginald Heber (1783-1836) and sung to the melody of “Nicaea” by John Bacches Dykes, 1861.

As I entered the sanctuary and walked down the aisle towards the front of the church, I was awed by the beautiful flowers, the powerful pipe organ music and the joyful harmonizing voices of the older choir members standing on risers around the altar. 

It is difficult to describe the beauty of that moment as I experienced the reality of God’s holiness.

 In my white robe, I felt like an angel approaching the throne of God. I can still recall the intense emotion, the great happiness and reverence, I felt as I participated in the glory of worship. 

Later in life, after I became a born again follower of Christ, I read in Isaiah about the holiness of God (Isaiah 6: 1-9). My mind immediately took me to that treasured memory of my childhood experience of God’s holiness. Truly every time I read Scriptures regarding God’s holiness, I recall this turning point in my life.

Have you experienced the holiness of God, His purity, His goodness, the absence of evil? God is revealing who He is and wants us to know and understand His holiness.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the ways You reached out to me when I was a child. You are still showing me who You are. Thank You for special memories which helped to form who I am today. Times I treasure! You are Holy and call us as Christ followers to be holy, separated unto You in intimate relationship, led by Your Holy Spirit.