That you are in heaven

Interestingly, the same Jesus who encourages us to see God as a merciful and loving father in the Lord's Prayer also reminds us that God is 'in heaven'. That is, although God is intimately involved in his creation and wants to be intimate with us, we must always remember that there is a sense of healthy distance and difference that we must retain from our understanding of God.

He is not like us! He is totally Other. Certainly his ways are not our ways, and his thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55: 8).

The Bible calls us to a paradoxical relationship of absolute trust and absolute reverence for God. We have to love it and fear it simultaneously. We have to approach his throne with confidence, but also with fear and trembling. We have to understand that he is always with us and that he dwells in us through his Holy Spirit, but that he also dwells “in unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:16), beyond any imperfection or low feeling.

The writer of Ecclesiastes wisely reminds us that "God is in heaven and we are on earth," and that therefore our words must be few. That is, as we remember the infinite distance between us and our heavenly Father, we must be careful how we approach Him. Our words and actions, our life and conduct must reflect that sense of reverence and awe before the majesty of the Creator.

God is Holy, three times Holy. It deserves our worship and reverent subjection. His Lordship is unquestionable. Our surrender and obedience to his will must be absolute.

We must never gamble with God. We must not underestimate his sanctity or lordship. God does not exist just to please us or meet our needs. Rather, we exist to obey, worship, and glorify Him alone!