“Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”
(1 Timothy 6:16)
The sun’s brilliance, even from 93 million miles away, is so powerful we can’t gaze at it without causing damage to our eyesight. And still the brilliance of the light of God’s holy and glorious presence is infinitely greater. So great is His majesty and holiness, in fact, that it is utterly inaccessible to sinful man. God who alone has immortality dwells in a light that no man has seen or can see.
When God began to make Himself known to Israel, He gave clear, unalterable instructions about how His people were to approach Him. At Mount Sinai, the people were warned not to touch even the base of the mountain upon which God would descend. Consecration and cleansing were commanded, and any breach of those divine instructions would result in death (Exodus 19). Even Moses, the faithful servant of God and chosen deliverer of Israel, was told he could not see God’s glory and live (Exodus 33). That divine refusal was indeed merciful. God’s radiant holiness, if unveiled, would consume sinful flesh.
The unapproachability of God was visibly represented in the temple by the veil separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the sanctuary. This thick curtain symbolized the distance between holy God and sinful man. Only the high priest, once a year, was permitted to enter behind it, and only with the blood of atonement for the people.
Yet in a display of unfathomable mercy and condescension, this same God veiled His glory in the flesh of His Son. The eternal Word became incarnate—Immanuel, “God with us.” In Jesus Christ, God made Himself known and accessible. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory…)” (John 1:14). At the moment Christ died, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom (Matt. 27:51), signifying the opening of the way into God’s presence through the blood of Christ.
Still, we are not to approach this holy God irreverently or presumptuously. Hebrews 4:16 urges us to come boldly to the throne of grace, but James 4:8 reminds us to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts as we draw near. Only those who are washed in the blood of Christ and clothed in His righteousness are permitted access to the throne of a God who dwells in unapproachable light, “…that we may draw near to God with acceptance. It is observable that, in a general sense, all sins are the works of the flesh: whatever is not divine and spiritual is carnal, in the language of scripture.”[1]
The light of God’s presence remains far too holy for unredeemed flesh. And yet, through Christ, God the Son—the Light of the world—we see and know the Father. “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son… He hath declared Him” (John 1:18). In Christ, the glory of God is visibly manifested to us, giving us “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).
Thus, the God who is infinite, eternal, and majestic beyond imagination has come near in the person of Jesus Christ. We adore Him not only for His holiness and transcendence but also for His mercy in making Himself known, approachable, and knowable in the Son. Let us bow in reverence and worship before the One who dwells in light unapproachable, yet has drawn near to us in love.
Contemplation:
- The Great Divide. I rarely reflect on how holy and set apart You truly are, Lord. You dwell in light so brilliant that no one can approach, and yet I often disregard Your majesty when I pray or worship. Help me regain the sense of awe due Your presence. You are not like me. You are not common or casual. You are God Most High, glorious in holiness and clothed in unapproachable light.
- The Veil Torn. The veil in the temple was a constant reminder that sin separates me from You. Yet when Christ died, that barrier was torn. How can I be so slow to draw near to You when the way has been opened by such precious blood? Teach me to treasure the access I now have to You, Lord.
- The Light of Christ. Without Christ, I would remain in darkness, never knowing the God who made me. But Christ is the Light of the world. In His face I see the glory that would otherwise consume me. Thank You for this revelation. Help me not be content with vague impressions of who You are but rather to seek to know more of Your light in Your Word.
- True Worship. Worship is not about feeling spiritual or participating in religious rituals. It is the humble adoration of a holy God by a redeemed sinner. May my worship always reflect who You are. Let it be marked by reverence, joy, and the kind of awe that comes from knowing I have been invited to draw near to the One in whose presence even the angels cover their faces.
Prayer (Adoration)
O Lord God, eternal and holy, You dwell in light that no eye can behold and no mind can comprehend. You are from everlasting to everlasting, perfect in holiness, infinite in power, and majestic in glory. Angels veil their faces before You, and the earth trembles at the sound of Your voice. You are the One who alone has immortality, who reigns with dominion that shall never end. In You there is no shadow, no imperfection, no change. You are pure light, and in You is no darkness at all.
And yet, Lord, in Your great mercy, You have made Yourself known to man. Though we are but dust, You did not remain distant. In the fullness of time, You sent Your Son, born of a woman, clothed in human flesh, to dwell among us. You veiled Your glory in the likeness of men so that sinners might behold Your face and live. In Jesus Christ we have seen the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
We adore You, O Father, for sending Your Son. We adore You, O Son, for willingly humbling Yourself, taking on the form of a servant, and enduring the cross to bring us near. We adore You, O Spirit, for revealing the Son to our hearts, for regenerating us, and drawing us into communion with the God who cannot be approached apart from Your work.
Your Word is light, and in that light we see light. You have not left us in darkness, but You have given us the lamp of Scripture, the light of truth, to guide our steps into Your presence. We would be lost in the shadows of our own making if You had not revealed Yourself. And now that we know You, let us never take Your nearness for granted. Keep us from treating lightly what was purchased with the blood of Your Son.
Holy God, let our worship rise as incense. Let our hearts tremble at Your Word. Let us never forget that the One who invites us to draw near is also the One who made Mount Sinai quake. You are worthy of reverence, awe, and praise. You are worthy of our songs, our silence, our tears, and our devotion.
We lift our eyes to You, the God who dwells in unapproachable light, and we worship with grateful wonder that You have brought us near through Jesus Christ. Glory be to Your name, now and forevermore.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for 1 Timothy 6:16:
1 Tim. 1:17; John 1:18; Ps. 104:2; Exod. 33:20; 1 John 1:5; Ps. 90:2.
[1] William Bates, The Whole Works of the Rev. William Bates, vol. 2 (Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle Publications, 1990), 299.
