Our top priority should be to pursue Holiness!
Jesus spoke in John chapter 14:
21 The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] Loves Me; and whoever [really] Loves Me will be Loved by My Father, and I [too] will Love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.] AMPC
How well can you see and discern from afar off? Your Holiness which comes from following the commands of Jesus determines your closeness to The Throne Room.
It is recorded by THE SPIRIT in Isaiah chapter 6:
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a Throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His Robe filled the Temple.
2 Above It stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face (in reverence), with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the House was filled with smoke.
5 So I stammered: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.”
How did the seraphim describe the immediate Presence of The Lord God Almighty? He didn’t say “Love, Love, Love” which is an attribute of FATHER. Instead, he said “Holy, Holy, Holy” which is the indescribable essence of what he encountered. We simply don’t have the words to fully encompass our immediate encounter except to say “Holy, Holy, Holy” with fear and trembling!
John experienced the same thing in the Throne Room when he wrote by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 1:
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.”
Jesus revealed Himself to John and John recorded what he saw in the Throne Room. When we encounter pure Holiness, we will respond in the same manner.
Paul encountered pure Holiness on the road to Damascus.
Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 9:
3 So Saul (who is Paul) obtained the authorization and left for Damascus. Just outside the city, a brilliant light flashing from heaven suddenly exploded all around him.
4 Falling to the ground, he heard a booming Voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 The men accompanying Saul were stunned and speechless, for they heard a Heavenly Voice but could see no one. Saul replied, “Who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus, the Victorious, the One you are persecuting. Now, get up and go into the city, where you will be told what you are to do.”
8 Saul stood to his feet, and even though his eyes were open he could see nothing—he was blind. So the men had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus.
9 For three days he didn’t eat or drink and couldn’t see a thing.
Jesus protected Paul from certain death by blinding him from the pure Holiness of Jesus arriving from the Throne Room. Paul’s unrighteous acts were taken into account during this encounter. John did not suffer blindness because he had received salvation and was in right standing with THE LORD.
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on Paul he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.“
18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
Paul received salvation and was baptized in The Holy Spirit all at the same time. He immediately was able to speak in Tongues, a pure means of prayer to GOD.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians chapter 14:
1 Pursue Love, and desire Spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he who speaks in a Tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
14 For if I pray in a Tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?
17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank My God I speak with Tongues more than you all;
Paul clearly declares and emphasizes the importance of praying in Tongues else he would not make such a statement. We should not understate the importance of The Baptism of The Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in Tongues. Paul didn’t and neither should I. Praying in Tongues is one aspect of pursuing Holiness.