On the morning of March 17, 2022, around 11 a.m., I had an experience that reshaped my understanding of the holiness of God. I was weighed down by neglect, disappointment, and shame. In that fragile moment, I slipped into what I cannot quite call a trance or a sleep—it was something in between.
In that state, I saw a hand holding mine, gently leading me. Together, we walked from a dark space into an atmosphere I can only describe as pure, bright, and unblemished. It was like entering a physical room, the floor, the background, even the ceiling—felt seamless, perfect, and whole. The overwhelming sense was one of absolute safety.
Yet, instead of rushing forward, I pulled back. Why? Because I felt unworthy, unqualified to step into such a space of purity. The hand that held mine did not drag me, but encouraged me. And though I hesitated, part of my hand and body entered the room. In that moment, I began to speak in tongues—so clearly, so audibly, that I could understand the deep meanings of what was flowing out of me. The joy, the excitement, the peace—it was beyond words. But still, I resisted fully stepping in. Then, just like that, I returned to myself.
Isaiah 57:15 suddenly made sense in a new way: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
That encounter taught me something profound: the holiness of God is not just protection, safety, or perfection. It is greater than goodness, deeper than love, and beyond comprehension. God’s holiness is enough—it cannot be fully explained, only experienced.
Hannah’s prayer echoes this truth in 1 Samuel 2:2: “There is no one holy like the LORD. There is none besides You; there is no Rock like our God.”
Called to Be Holy
Throughout Scripture, God continually calls His people to holiness. Every law given in the Old Testament, every warning against sin, every call to repentance was not to burden us but to draw us closer to His nature. “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44).
Jesus later clarified that holiness is not about external rituals alone—“It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a person” (Matthew 15:11). True holiness flows from the heart, reshaping our character, and aligning us with God’s will. As Paul reminded the Thessalonians, “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7).
The Temple and the Holy of Holies
To grasp the weight of holiness, we can look back to the Old Testament temple. At its very center was the Holy of Holies, a sacred space where God’s presence dwelled above the mercy seat (Hebrews 9:3-5). Only the High Priest could enter, once a year, and only after careful purification. If he entered unworthy, he risked death. A rope and bell were tied to his foot, so that if judgment fell, he could be pulled out.
But everything changed with Christ. Through His death and resurrection, the curtain separating the Holy of Holies was torn in two (Matthew 27:51). The Spirit of God no longer dwells behind a veil—He dwells in us. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:19: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.”
That means our bodies are now the Holy of Holies. We are called to live every day as vessels that carry His presence—not once a year, not only on Sundays, but continuously.
The Call Today
With such a calling, the question arises: Can we ever truly attain this holiness? On our own, NO!. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, YES!!. God does not demand perfection without providing grace. Holiness is not about being flawless—it is about surrender. It is about yielding daily to the Spirit who shapes us into God’s likeness.
As Peter writes: “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16).
So, let us minimize distractions. Let us put away selfish desires that entangle us. Let us live as people set apart for God, because the Most Holy One has chosen to dwell not in temples made by human hands, but in us.
The holiness of God is everything—and He calls us to reflect it.
When the Spirit of God dwells in your Holy of Holies, you—as His temple—are not harmed but armed, not overpowered but empowered, not disgraced but graced. Every good and perfect gift is drawn to you, not because of who you are, but because of Him who dwells within you.
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