Yesterday we were talking about the holiness of God, and about what is perhaps the most common understanding of what holiness is, namely separation from sin.

Actually, I hope you'll keep on listening today and tomorrow because there's a lot more

to be said about this. Ever since I was a young teenage Christian, there's a hymn about God's

holiness that's meant a great deal to me. It's not in every hymn book, even in the churches that still use

them. You might ask, what's that hymn? It's not in every hymn book, even in the churches that still use them.

You might ask, what's that hymn?

It's by the 19th century English Congregationalist Minister, Thomas Binney.

And here are two of its verses.

Eternal light, eternal light, how pure the soul must be when placed within thy searching sight, it shrinks not, but with

calm delight can live and look on thee.

The spirits that surround thy throne may bear the burning bliss, but that is surely theirs alone, since they

have never, never known a fallen world like this."

Now, I love these words, but I also think they don't tell the whole story.

Maybe it would be too strong to say they're actually wrong.

But if you read Isaiah chapter 6 with any care, you'll remember that the heavenly seraphs

who indeed have never known a fallen world like this, and who are perfectly holy creatures,

the seraphene themselves don't seem to feel that they

can bear the burning bliss. While they need two of their wings to keep flying or perhaps to remain

hovering in mid-air, and with two other wings they cover their feet, With the other two wings they cover their faces.

Try to imagine the picture.

I mean the picture of these seraphim.

Look at them.

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