Divine Dignity

From the Pastor: M. J. Seymour, Sr.

Somehow in the last few decades church folk have lost sight of the holy dignity due the everlasting living God of all creation. Many have transformed Him from an Eternal Sovereign into a “Slap Happy Pappy.” Pure thoughts of a holy dignified God have been replaced with vile graven imaginations of a “good ole buddy” that can be manipulated by worldly lusts. Cursed is everyone who is deceived by such gross ungodly perversions of His Majesty on High.

The Prophet Isaiah unveils for us a glimpse of God’s majesty: “I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Is. 6:1-3) Then Isaiah reveals what ought to be our proper response to such a glorious sight: “Woe is me! For I am undone;” (vs. 4) Notice with all the prophets, apostles, and saints of the Bible how they were instantly awed and bowed to the unveiled divine dignity of the Eternal Creator and the Lord Jesus Christ. Is there a lesson in this for all of us?

A true church of the Lord Jesus Christ, a body that has been purchased by His precious blood, has the inherent passion to hold the Father, the Son, and the Spirit in the highest degree of holy respect, honor and worthiness. Great care is taken by true believers not to trample under foot or to make mockery of the divine dignity due our Sovereign Eternal God, His blessed Son, and His Holy Spirit. When the saints enter the hallow halls of holy worship before the throne of grace and mercy, weighty considerations are given to the magnitude of preserving the dignity of Him that the seraphims are vigilant to proclaim as “Holy, holy, holy.” The assembling of saints was not designed to amuse and entertain the ungodly masses. We gather together to give authentic worship, praise, thanksgivings, sacrifices of ourselves, and to grow in the grace and knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus. All of this is to be accomplished without offending the divine dignity of the Almighty, Who uses the earth as His footstool. The Lord’s churches must exercise profound sensitivity to holy dignity as they assemble in the presence of God.