This may seem like a strange question since to “view” something usually means to physically see the object. We note in Exodus 33:20 when God is talking to Moses, that he will not allow Moses, His trusted servant, to see His face. In John 1:8, John reminds us that we cannot see His face, but we can see the manifestation of God in Jesus His Son. We can’t physically see God, but we can get a good picture of Him as revealed in scripture.
Exodus 33:20 “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”
John 1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
Our view of God is the foundation on which we build our relationship with Him. If the foundation is not steadfast and secure, the rest of the structure is shaky and vulnerable. Our view of God affects everything we do. It determines our view of scripture. If we do not see God as the supreme authority of the universe, we will have problems with scripture as our authority. We will subconsciously pick and choose what we believe is important. We will begin to interpret the bible with our own slant, which is tainted by our sinful nature.
I like the way Isaiah describes God in Isaiah 6:1-3. He has a vision of God sitting on a throne. He says God is “high and lifted up.” God is not equal to man. So much of the time we bring God down to our level and treat Him as common. There is nothing about God that is common. He is exalted above the earth where the angels worship Him day and night. They cry out, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY!” Matthew Henry, the noted commentator, says this about their cry of the holiness of God: “The superlative excellency of God’s holiness is above that of the purest creatures. He is holy, thrice holy, infinitely holy, originally, perfectly, and eternally so.” There is none like God!
Isaiah 6:1-3 “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphim: 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.”
This God that most treat so casually is to be reverenced and respected above everything else in our lives. He is not the “man upstairs,” the “higher power,” or “the big guy in the sky,” as some refer to Him. These titles belittle the God who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and always present. Jeremiah 10:6 reminds us that there is none like God! There have been great men who have done great things, but the greatest cannot compare to the creator of the universe. A doctor’s understanding of how the human body works can be daunting to the average person, but it can’t compare to the knowledge of the one who made the human body. The astrologer can see and discover stars never seen by the human eye before, but the one who made them is never astonished nor does He discover anything. The most compassionate person on earth, who gives their life to save others, can’t compare to God who gave His Son for the life of those who hate Him. His mercy, love, and grace are beyond our comprehension.
Jeremiah 10:6 “Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.”
After Isaiah saw the glory of God, it changed Him. He was introduced to the majesty, power, and purity of God. This allowed him to see his sin in his life. His cry was, “Woe is me, for I am undone.” It made God’s forgiveness a powerful motivator to love and serve such an awesome God.
Isaiah 6:5 “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
When we have a high view of God, it will change us also. We will no longer feel entitled to “a good life.” God will not be a part of our lives where we choose the things we will do for him, and give them as our offering. We will no longer believe the lie that many have told themselves. The lie that says we can worship our own way, make our own rules of life, and expect God to accept them and be happy we acknowledge Him. He is not a God who created us so He would have someone to make happy. He is not a genie in a bottle that we can control when needed. He is God, El Shaddai – The Lord God Almighty, El Elyon – the Most High, Adoni – Lord, Master, and on and on I could go describing the greatness of God. However, all the names that give us a picture of His greatness still can’t convey who He is.
A high view of God will increase our humility. True humility is grounded in how great He is and how little we are. This view allows us to place our total trust in Him. It will increase our faith because we see His greatness and know He is in control. His ways are perfect, and we can rest in Him.
When we understand who God is, and His rightful place as Supreme over everything, it will ignite a desire to worship the One worthy of honor and glory and praise! We can sing songs such as “How Great Thou Art” and “Awesome God,” from the depths of our souls. A high view of God will change us!
