The Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, does not disappoint. It is the most famous lighthouse in Maine and the oldest, being commissioned to be built by George Washington. On a sunny day like this, it contrasts gloriously to the deep blue of the sea and sky. The woman next to me at the viewing rail comments, “It looks just like a postcard.”
Indeed. Picture perfect.
For months, I’ve been looking for an image to accompany the concept of God’s holiness. It strikes me today that this lighthouse works on some levels. First, it has a remarkable purity: a glistening white tower during the day, a beam of light in the night.
That light is both a warning and a welcome. It warns ships of the disaster of their unaltered courses. And it welcomes home sailors to the land they’ve always longed for.
God’s moral perfection defines all he does. In Rev. 4:8, when the angels cry “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,” we need to see how powerfully emphasized that idea is. A word repeated twice gets our attention. Repeating a word three times underlines it and adds exclamation marks.
Holiness is so fundamental, it colors all that God is:
“This may be said to be a transcendental attribute, that, as it were, runs through the rest, and casts luster upon them. It is an attribute of attributes.” John Howe, 1670
“…take away this, and you bring an universal stain and blemish upon the Divine nature; without holiness, power would be oppression; and wisdom, subtilty; and sovereignty, tyranny; and goodness, malice and envy; and justice, cruelty; and mercy, foolish pity; and truth, falsehood. And, therefore, the Scripture speaks of this, as God’s highest excellency and perfection.” John Tillotson (1630 -1694)
I’m beginning to add to my concept of God’s holiness. I’ve always viewed it as the terrifying perfection that threw godly men like Isaiah down onto their knees crying out that they were undone. And, of course, it is that. It is the blazing fire that turns ungodliness to ash.
But reading these words of great preachers of the past, and looking at this striking vista today, I’m beginning to see the beauty of his holiness. It’s what makes all his attributes perfect and constant.
“God is holy . . .
in all His sayings,
in all His doings,
in whatever He puts His hand to,
in whatever He sets His heart to.
His frowns are holy,
His smiles are holy.
When He gives, His givings are holy giving;
when He takes away, His takings are holy takings.”
Thomas Brooks (1608 - 1680)
And far from being a perfection that pushes us away, his holiness desires to bring others into its brilliance. God shares with us his Holy Spirit to make us shine with the same beauty.
Though I wonder how much progress he has made in me, a longing to share in that beauty draws me in.
Great and holy God, with the angels we cry out in astonishment and gratitude that you are indeed holy in all that you are and do. Recreate that holiness in us.
Reader: I’m curious – what would you use to picture God’s holiness? A pastor friend suggested fire. What’s your idea? This was by far the hardest attribute for me to visualize.
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