When I was younger and looked at house plans, I used to see small rooms called "mud rooms" on the blueprints. I never really understood them until I lived two years in Illinois. In Florida the ground never freezes. It is wet with the dew most mornings and dries before noon. Up north the ground must thaw out every spring, and just like that frozen container of homemade tomato sauce on my kitchen counter, it stays wet until it does. Day after day I wiped up mud and scraped off boots. Now I really understood mud rooms and wished for one. At least all the guests were aware of the problem as well and left their shoes at the door without having to be asked.
That reminds me of the symbolism involved in Ex 3:5: Take off your shoes from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. While I cherish the confidence to approach God as a loving Father, while I am thrilled to see our young people revel in that closeness, I worry that we have forgotten what awe and reverence really mean, that we do not understand the requirements of holiness. Our lives have gotten so casual we cannot even comprehend the difference between the sacred and the profane-it has nothing to do with four letter words. It means we give our service to God-every day, not just on Sundays--special care, special preparation, and special effort, not just some haphazard, slapdash, last minute, half-hearted stab at it. It means there is a part of me that is afraid not to take off my muddy shoes before I enter into God's presence. And that fear is not a watered down variety called simply "respect." Even in a vision, the prophet Isaiah was so awestruck by God's presence that he exclaimed, Woe is me for I am undone, for I am a man of unclean lips who dwells in the midst of a people of unclean lips and I have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts Isa 6:5.
The same book that proclaims that we can come in boldness (Heb 4:16), states that we should approach with reverence and awe because Our God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:28,29). Paul also says in 1 Cor 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord... It is this sort of fear that will motivate me to holy living when my will power weakens, and love and gratitude are not quite enough to do the job.
Don't ever forget to take off those muddy shoes before coming before the Creator of the Universe.
For great is Jehovah and greatly to be praised:
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But Jehovah made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before him:
Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe unto Jehovah, you kindred of the peoples,
Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength.
Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due to his name:
Bring an offering and come into his courts.
Oh worship Jehovah in holy array:
Tremble before him all the earth.
Psalm 96:4-9
Dene Ward
That reminds me of the symbolism involved in Ex 3:5: Take off your shoes from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. While I cherish the confidence to approach God as a loving Father, while I am thrilled to see our young people revel in that closeness, I worry that we have forgotten what awe and reverence really mean, that we do not understand the requirements of holiness. Our lives have gotten so casual we cannot even comprehend the difference between the sacred and the profane-it has nothing to do with four letter words. It means we give our service to God-every day, not just on Sundays--special care, special preparation, and special effort, not just some haphazard, slapdash, last minute, half-hearted stab at it. It means there is a part of me that is afraid not to take off my muddy shoes before I enter into God's presence. And that fear is not a watered down variety called simply "respect." Even in a vision, the prophet Isaiah was so awestruck by God's presence that he exclaimed, Woe is me for I am undone, for I am a man of unclean lips who dwells in the midst of a people of unclean lips and I have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts Isa 6:5.
The same book that proclaims that we can come in boldness (Heb 4:16), states that we should approach with reverence and awe because Our God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:28,29). Paul also says in 1 Cor 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord... It is this sort of fear that will motivate me to holy living when my will power weakens, and love and gratitude are not quite enough to do the job.
Don't ever forget to take off those muddy shoes before coming before the Creator of the Universe.
For great is Jehovah and greatly to be praised:
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But Jehovah made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before him:
Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe unto Jehovah, you kindred of the peoples,
Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength.
Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due to his name:
Bring an offering and come into his courts.
Oh worship Jehovah in holy array:
Tremble before him all the earth.
Psalm 96:4-9
Dene Ward
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