16 As God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1, ESV)
Singing songs in a corporate worship setting, as one congregation who represents the Body of Christ, has happened for thousands of years, originating back to the model of the Jewish synagogue tradition. These songs are to have rich theological meaning, teaching those who sing and hear the story of Jesus Christ, about who God is, and about who we are in relation to who God is. In many of today’s popular worship songs, I sometimes wonder if some of the rich theological truths are being abandoned for more cool and hip sounding words and phrases — and if not, that we as a Church are simply losing understanding behind deep theological truths.
One such popular song in North America is Holy Spirit by Bryan and Katie Torwalt. The song’s lyrics, along with the fluid melody, makes for an appearance of a “feel good” and peaceful song; however, upon singing this song today, I believe there is an aspect of this song that we miss. (I am in no way criticizing the writers of this song or the song itself. In fact, I hope this song has greater meaning after reading this. I am simply taking a different perspective on the lyrics than what is presented.)
First, let’s take a look at the two main parts of the song:
CHORUS
Holy Spirit You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory God is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence Lord
BRIDGE
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
Again, at first glance, it looks and sounds like a “feel good” song — and there’s nothing wrong with this! — but there is something profound that we are singing when we say, “Let us become more aware of Your presence,” of which I believe most are unaware.
An increased awareness of God's presence always produces an increased awareness of our sin. There is no way around it. One simply cannot look upon the true Jesus Christ and not be confounded by both the awesome holiness of God's glory and grace, and the awful sinfulness of our own hearts and minds. Isaiah's first response when he found himself enshrouded by God's holy presence was the sudden and horrifying realization of his sin, and how his sin could not continue or persist in God's glorious presence. It had to be eliminated immediately and eradicated wholly and completely for Isaiah to be able to withstand God's holiness.
1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:1-5, ESV)
Now, I don’t believe the song Holy Spirit was written with this Scripture in mind, as there is nothing within the song to ascertain that train of thought; nevertheless, this truth still remains: An increased awareness of God's presence always produces an increased awareness of our sin.
This same holiness and glory that exists within God’s presence exists within the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God. Again, one simply cannot look upon the true Jesus Christ and not be confounded by both the awesome holiness of God's glory and grace, and the awful sinfulness of our own hearts and minds. When looking upon Jesus' welcome and open arms, it can only be within the context of looking upon our sin, realizing that we are in need of the Saviour, who died on the cross, paying the penalty for the sin that exists in each of our lives; and who three days later rose again from the grave, showing His awesome power over death and darkness. His light shines in the darkness. The darkness that exists within you.
The darkness that exists within me.
Upon realization of this, it may seem unappealing, then, to our flesh to desire to have an increased awareness of God’s holy presence — and indeed, it is. Our sin never desires to be found out. It never desires to be known. It never desires to have light expose it. When we see our sin for what it is in light of God’s holiness, we are completely and utterly ruined. So why ask for an increased awareness of His presence? Because of what comes immediately afterwards:
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” (Isaiah 6:6-7, ESV)
God doesn’t allow us to experience His presence to simply leave us hanging in our misery as we see ourselves for who we truly are. Instead, He cleanses and forgives us! The guilt we have for our sin is taken away through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Who is it that condemns if not Jesus, the perfect judge of man:
2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:2-11)
An increased awareness of God’s presence, then, not only simultaneously produces an increased awareness of our sin, but also produces an increased awareness of His mercy. What we deserve when we stand in the presence of a holy God is complete death and rejection — yet He calls us each to Himself, to be adopted as His sons and daughters, forgiven and made pure.
As difficult as it may be for our flesh to desire to be in God’s presence, let us indeed become more aware of His presence; let us experience the glory of His goodness! For the forgiveness, love, mercy, and grace that is found within His presence is worth the moments of utter disgust we have with our sinful nature.
When was the last time you were ruined by the realization of your sin. When was the last time I was? My prayer is that whenever I ask to be more aware of anything “God”: His love, His grace, His will for my life - His presence - that I would become more aware of the sin and darkness that exists in my own life, ever more drawn to His goodness and light. And, in turn, that I would let the Holy Spirit make me more like Christ - holy, pure, and blameless; a reflection of God Himself.