We often claim we want to encounter God, yet we secretly prefer Him on our own terms—comforting but not challenging, encouraging but not convicting. This exploration of Exodus 20:18-26 confronts us with the stunning reality of God's holiness as Israel trembles before Mount Sinai, engulfed in thunder, lightning, and divine fire. The people's visceral fear wasn't theatrical—it was the honest recognition that sinful humanity cannot casually approach a holy God. Yet here's the beautiful paradox: God's holiness doesn't exist to push us away but to transform us. The passage reveals two types of fear—one that drives us into hiding and another that draws us into reverence and obedience. Moses steps forward as mediator while the people stand back, foreshadowing our ultimate need for Christ, the one mediator between God and humanity. Through Jesus, the barrier is removed, the curtain torn, and we're invited not to stand far off but to draw near with confidence. This message challenges us to examine whether we're living in spiritual distance despite being saved, attending church but avoiding intimacy, knowing God but keeping Him at arm's length. The call is clear: will we remain in cautious reserve, or will we step into the gospel confidence that Christ has purchased for us?