By Nick Bibile
It's easy to think of God in a casual way, like a friend you can just hang out with. But the Bible shows us that while we can approach God, it's with a deep sense of respect and reverence. Think about the difference between talking to your best friend and talking to the President of the United States—the way you act and what you say will be very different.
In the book of Exodus, we read an amazing story about God coming down to meet with the Israelites at Mount Sinai. This wasn't a casual meeting. It was a powerful, awe-inspiring event that showed just how holy and mighty God is.
Imagine this scene from Exodus 19:
Thunder and lightning filled the sky.
A thick cloud covered the mountain.
The sound of a loud trumpet blast rang out.
The entire mountain was covered in smoke and fire, and it trembled greatly.
The people were so scared they had to stay back and were even told that if they touched the mountain, they would die! This wasn't a "come on over, we're just hanging out" kind of moment. This was a demonstration of God's immense power and holiness.
You might be thinking, "That was the Old Testament God. Jesus is different." But the Bible tells us that God's nature is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John, who was very close to Jesus, saw Jesus in His full heavenly glory. The experience was so overwhelming that John "fell at his feet as though dead." Even John, who had walked and talked with Jesus, was completely overcome by God's holiness and power. Jesus had to tell him, "Fear not!"
This shows us that while we have Jesus as our bridge to God, God's majesty and holiness haven't changed.
Because God is so holy and we are not, we need to approach Him with both fear and rejoicing.
Fear in this context doesn't mean being terrified that God is going to hurt you. It's more like a deep respect and awe for His greatness. It's a recognition of how small we are and how great He is.
Rejoicing comes from knowing that even though we are not perfect, God loves us and has made a way for us to be with Him through Jesus.
Think of it like getting incredible news that makes you so happy you're trembling with excitement. It's a mix of emotions—awe, gratitude, and joy—all wrapped into one. As the Bible says in Psalm 2:11, we should "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling."