Reply To: The Holiness of God, Chapter 3 – The Fearful Mystery

Yes, thank you Jesus! And thank you Tom for simplifying my struggle in your last few lines. I have to admit I was taken aback by the idea outlined by Otto that there could be a demonic form to the feeling of the awful mystery of God’s holiness. I had to research his theories more and he seems to be saying that’s the experience an “uncivilized person who hasn’t found religion” would feel.
Thankfully once we’ve submitted our lives to Christ, perhaps the more repentant and sanctified we are, the more like Him we are, the more ‘at home’ we’d feel in His presence.

The idea of our fear being our wish came to mind, “being attracted and repulsed by something, not being able to live with or without it; fear or hatred of strangers, anything foreign, God in His holiness being the ultimate foreigner.”
“Meeting God is a powerful story in contrasts-the Other is overwhelming. Even in defining holiness, there are so many words that can be used yet it defies explanation and is impossible.”
“Satan’s lie, you shall/could be like Him” yet we were created in His image and meant to reflect His character and someday we will be like Him. We pray that through obedience and submission to His Spirit of Holiness, He’s doing the changing in us and we are looking/being more like Him every day. Not for ours but for His glory.