When you are in an especially beautiful or loving time, or when you know you have pleased God, or when you see a spectacular view of earth or the universe, you may have had a momentary chill.
Or you may get a chill when you see evil, sensing God’s wrath.
Soul Shivers
I’m speculating, but might these mysterious chills be glimpses of our incomprehensible, awesome God? Might they be soul shivers?
God is Transcendent
God—Father, Son, Holy Spirit—has life in Himself. He is eternal, from everlasting to everlasting. (e.g. John 5:26)
God is totally different than we are, His created humans. He stands above and apart from His creation. He is beyond time, beyond space. He is separate from us, unique, perfect, unchanging. He is infinite, not bound by limitation. ALL things are possible for Him.
Seeing the Indescribable
In Scripture, the reaction of those seeing the glory of God often has been to fall face down as dead or be overwhelmed with one’s own sinfulness.
Then I [Isaiah] said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5)
Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. (Daniel 10:7–9)
When I [John] saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. (Revelation 1:17)
Try to Glimpse His Awesome Holiness
Every living thing in the universe will die—except God who has unending life. You yourself, all humans, all animals, birds, fish, plants, stars. Eternal God remains.
Think about something you find incomprehensible, while still knowing that nothing is impossible with God. For example, not only does He know all 8+ billion living humans, every hair on their heads, but He knows them all the way back to Adam and Eve. And He knows their futures.
In His providence, He fits together innumerable actions to achieve His holy plan. We see that over and over in Scripture. And, for believers, He is working all things together for good. Contemplate what is required to make that possible. (God!)
Meditate on God’s otherness.
God’s Revelation of Himself
Yet, God has chosen to reveal Himself to us! Stay tuned…..
Worship our Holy God!
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Father, help us appreciate Your Holy, infinite, perfection. Help us keep You in mind through our days, living in a way that pleases You.
