The High and Lofty One

For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble,
And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. – Isaiah 57.15

I first came across this lesson while reading the book ‘Be Ye Holy’ by Fred Moritz, a friend of mine. He was describing the different types of God’s holiness and this section is called ‘God’s Immanent Holiness.’ This is the almost incomprehensible idea that God’s holiness is in heaven and at the same time can be in man.

I can understand that God lives in heaven. I can understand how a perfectly holy God can dwell in eternity. He is, after all, God. He is the perfect holy almighty sinless One.

But the second part stuns me. This perfect holy sinless God chooses to also dwell with him who has a ‘humble and contrite’ spirit.

How can this God who lives in a high and lofty place and who dwelling place is eternity live in a temporal space with wicked and sinful man?

It is because of His love. His love allows Him to come and dwell with all those who will humble themselves and and turn to Him. He will heal and revive and lift up the humble who realise their own inability to deal with their sin and will call on Him.

So the God who is forever is willing to live in sinful man and to prepare us for eternity. Those of us who are believers know the joy of ‘Christ in me.’ We have strength to deal with whatever comes our way because the God of eternity lives in us.

What a marvellous truth to go with us today!