Holiness of God

I've been rummaging around in the Book of Leviticus looking for handles on a healthy perspective of God. The book can be overwhelming, and if taken at a superficial level can leave a reader feeling defeated and hopeless. It is full of rules and regulations and after a while, it would be easy to feel like a total loser…like we can never measure up. I know because that’s how I was feeling on this read through.

As Leviticus states, every sacrifice to God had to be perfect. The person offering the sacrifice had to have his/her act together. No blemishes or scars on anything. No half-hearted approaches to God. No stumbling into the sacred sanctuary. God said, “Be holy even as I am holy.” No room for error in the Book of Leviticus.

It’s important to understand the theme of the Book of Leviticus is the holiness of God. However, it’s easy to get sidetracked and think it’s all about the rules. Frankly, I can’t wrap my mind around the absolute purity and holiness of God so it’s easier to land on the rules as the way to God. But listen…the “laws” in Leviticus are not trying to tie us in religious and emotional knots; the laws are pointing to the absolute holiness of God. He is so holy that human efforts to approach Him must be flawless….and even then they fall short. Who can comprehend such purity?! How can we comprehend a God so holy that sin is not something that even crosses His mind, let alone gets demonstrated in His actions? Or a holiness so crystal clear that the smallest speck of dirt looks like a muddy pond and sounds like scratching fingernails on a blackboard?

In addition, the questions I sometimes ask and hear others ask reveal our inability to wrap our minds around the abhorrent nature of sin. For example, I have heard many ask, “Why did Jesus have to die?” They aren't looking for a Sunday School answer like “He died for our sins,” although that is theologically correct. The question is asked because the assumption is that if God is God, can’t He just say, “Ok…all is forgiven. Don’t worry about it. I’ll let it go.” They believe there is no need for a death to occur in this scenario.

The problem with that response is the depth of sin is not understood. It’s like the parent who never corrects or punishes their child when a wrong is done. The parent lets it go. The child continues to practice doing wrong because he never grasps the scope or repugnance of his actions. God is not only a holy God and a loving God, He is a just God. When I sin, I create a debt. I have robbed from the holy character of God because He created me in His image and I am called to be holy like He is holy. My sin leaves a stain on my character, a character created by God himself. I marred what is pure. My sin created a debt I am unable to pay! The apostle Paul said it well in Romans 7:24, 25; “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Leviticus reveals my inherent lack of holiness that stands in wild contrast to the immeasurable holiness of God. Whoever has to pay my debt of robbing from the purity of God must possess the purity of God. Only Jesus could pay that debt. Only He can do what I can’t. The Book of Leviticus is a book that reveals our need for Christ. He is pure, unblemished, sinless, perfect…holy. He has what it takes!

And, there’s more good news! We are made holy when He dwells in us. We can’t separate holiness from God. Thus, when we allow His Spirit to fill us…we are holy by virtue of His presence.

Leviticus, in the big picture because it centers on the holiness of God reminds us of what we can’t be, and how much we need Christ. The holiness of God stands out against the unholiness of humanity. So God sent His son to redeem us. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering." Romans 8:1-3

Don’t be discouraged when you read how we fall short…be encouraged that when we come to Christ we are made holy and acceptable to God.