On my recent silent retreat I arose early to pray. I had discovered the year before that the best time to pray is just before dawn. I learned that from Jesus and quickly discovered the benefits of being awake and alert as the sun rises to a new day. I wanted a repeat of the experience I had enjoyed the year before, so I was eager to arise at 4:30 a.m. to enjoy the darkness before the sunset.

There is a dock that goes out into a lake that makes the perfect place to see the sunrise, but the problem is that between the cabin and the lake there is no light. I had made myself comfortable on the porch eager to see the sunrise. God told me to go into His light, not stay in the light of man, so with all the courage I could muster, I trudged through the darkness until I reached the dock. I was a bit early for the sunrise, but the view of the moon was fabulous. It was a full moon in the east almost orange in color. It could have been mistaken for the sunrise. I was enraptured by the moon. As I watched it, I witnessed the most glorious site I have ever seen. The clouds formed into the shape of cherubim on either side of the moon. (No, I didn't have a camera!) I just called out Holy, Holy, Holy! I think the words Hallelujah came out of my mouth too. I knew that I was in the presence of God's holiness and that this was his special gift to me on this retreat. It was a period of time when I felt so alive in the presence of holiness. I felt welcomed and invited into holiness. I felt privileged to have this experience. I could have never seen it, if I hadn't walked out onto the dock.

That had been so wonderful; I couldn't wait for the sunrise. I waited and waited and waited. The horizon turned beautiful colors of pink and purples, but the round orange sphere stayed hidden from view. I knew it was there, but never had the joy of seeing it directly, only the beauty it created in the atmosphere. Suddenly it hit me. God wanted to give me a moonset this year. The sunrise was for another day. This year the moon was the place He would touch me most.

I've been reminded of that view when I sing praises and worship God. I take that picture of holiness with me wherever I happen to be. I'm so in awe of His holiness. Romans 6:20 says, When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness (or holiness). Before Christ came to live in me, I didn't care too much about holiness or righteousness. I was free from being convicted of my sins. I didn't ponder moons or sunrises and think of a Holy God. I was free from the effect of righteousness. And I've got to tell you, it didn't feel all that free. I totally agree with Paul as he describes the transformation in Romans 6:22, But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.I got a little taste of the wonder and awe of holiness that morning. It is something that I have been savoring ever since. Oh, the benefits of beholding God's holiness! It makes me want to be holy like He is holy. It helps me be in awe of the fact that through Christ I am righteous or holy. When I ponder God's holiness and realize that through Christ I'm made holy, it totally overwhelms me. Do you know about holiness?