Have you truly met God Luke 5:8, Isaih 6:5
What was your first encounter with God?
What was your first encounter when you met God? Were you convicted of your sin?I remember my first real encounter with God in the year 2010. I cried before the Lord as the Holy Spirit convicted me of the sins I had committed. I confessed, repented, and promised God that I would change my ways. That day, I truly understood that God is holy, and I was a sinner in desperate need of His mercy.
Biblical Examples of Conviction
The prophet Isaiah had a similar experience in Isaiah 6:1–5. He saw the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne, and the angels cried out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” In that moment, Isaiah realized his true condition and cried, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips!”This is always the first step when we encounter God: the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. We suddenly see ourselves clearly—not as good people, but as sinners standing before a holy God.
We also see this truth in Zechariah 3:1–5. Joshua the high priest stood before the Lord in filthy garments, while Satan accused him. But the Lord rebuked Satan and commanded that Joshua’s filthy clothes be removed. Then He clothed him with clean garments and a clean turban, symbolizing forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration.Even Peter, when he first met Jesus, fell at His knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). Whenever men and women in Scripture encounter the holiness of God, the response is always the same: a realization of sinfulness and an urgent need for God’s cleansing.
The Heart of the Message
You cannot truly be saved without first realizing how sinful you are. If you have never been convicted of your sin, you may not yet have had a true encounter with God. Conviction is not condemnation—it is the Spirit drawing you to repentance so that you can be cleansed and restored.
Conclusion
When we truly meet God, we will see two things clearly: how holy He is and how sinful we are.
- Like Isaiah, we will cry, “Woe to me!”
- Like Peter, we will confess, “I am a sinful man.”
- Like Joshua, we will stand in filthy garments, accused by Satan.
But here is the good news: God does not leave us in that condition. He rebukes the accuser, removes our filthy garments, and clothes us in the righteousness of Christ. Salvation is not about how good we are—it is about how merciful God is. So, I ask you today: Have you realized how sinful you are? Have you cried out for a Savior? If you have not, then maybe you have not yet truly encountered the living God. But if you humble yourself and come to Him, He will forgive, cleanse, and clothe you with His righteousness. Cry out to Him today, and He will make you new.
