Scripture:
Isaiah 6:1-8 NKJV
[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, 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 said: “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.” [6] Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. [7] And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” [8] Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
Observation:
I often think about this moment in Isaiah’s life. I remember being in Teen Challenge when I came across this scripture and the weight of what this moment must have been like really hit me. The wonder and amazement that Isaiah must have felt as the LORD YAHWAH steadily revealed HIMSELF to the young man. GOD’S majestic power on display, HIS majesty presented without denial. Sometimes I go so far as to put myself in the position of Isaiah to gain a better understanding of how this impacted his life and to comprehend the commanding presence of the Almighty Father. Even just reading over it still takes my breath away to this very day. For someone to be standing in the throne room of the very center of heaven and earth. All that can really be said is, “WOW”, knowing man’s sinful condition, yet being in the presence of GOD in all HIS holiness. GOD’S glory fills the room. Seraphim surrounding HIM, doing all they can to give some kind of description, but unable to even uncover their face. The holiness of the Father is so overwhelming. As Isaiah stands there giving witness to all he sees he can’t help but be in absolute wonder. I picture him falling to his knees. With tears flowing down his face. Seeing the LORD in all of HIS holiness only leaves him confronted with who he really is, “A man of unclean lips.” There was no other response. But there was a way to fix that to clean the unclean lips. As a seraphim grabs a coal from the altar and touches his lip, Isaiah starts to put together the reason for his being placed in this position. What an incredible experience, seeing the glory of the one who stitched you together in the womb of your mother. As the fire from the altar made him clean, only one question could be asked. Are you willing to go? The words were put forth in such a manner that a test was presented: “Whom will I send, and who will go for me?” All of Isaiah’s excuses had been removed. His lips were made clean. The purifying fire of the LORD had made sure of it. There was only one answer that could be given, Here I am, LORD, send me. It’s all that could be said. Nothing else would do.
Application:
Have you ever had that breathtaking moment where GOD has revealed HIMSELF to you? That moment that has left you on your face confronted with all your sin. We see it described a few times in the bible. Paul experienced it on the road to Damascus, David felt it when the prophet told him Bathsheba was no secret, and even Nebuchadnezzar understood who he was as a hand wrote on the wall that left him dumbfounded. Seeing the LORD in all HIS majesty can only leave you on your face asking for mercy. But HE has made a way where there was no way. HE has presented HIMSELF to you because HE wants to use you. As you sit there and look over who you were don’t forget who HE has made you to be trumps all that if you will let it. I remember the day. I was 18 years old and on my way to prison. There was no way out of it. I was scared. I had heard all the stories. Everyone had spoken the fear into me. I was searching for an answer. So I turned to the bible. Isn’t it interesting how when we find ourselves in a spot it’s almost natural instincts to seek out an answer through the only book that has all the answers. I started to study, but I couldn’t really understand it due to the fact that I was never really taught to read that well. Finding some others who were willing to help made it a little easier. So we started reading the bible and putting together to the best of our ability what it was telling us. One night, as I was in my bed, half asleep, something took place that I’m still amazed by all these years later. I was half awake and half asleep. When I had what I believe to be a vision. I was sitting at the table with the men I had been seeking answers with when I looked up in the corner of the cell and saw a bright light. It struck something inside of me. A peaceful fear you might say. As it quickly descended from the corner of the cell and knocked in out of my chair on to my back I started to whimper. The fear had grown, yet I felt like I had nothing to worry about. I heard a voice tell me, “Don’t worry it’s just Paul.” I didn’t know what to make of it. I had never studied anything about Paul or any of his testimony. I had no idea that the day he was called went much like that day in the cell. When I woke up, I couldn’t help but tell the overseer about what had happened. As I told one of the guys named Billy he said it sounds like you were visited by the apostle Paul. It wasn’t until years later that I got to read Paul’s testimony in the book of Acts and started putting it all together. Paul was confronted with who he was, and in the light of who Jesus is he was blinded by it. He woke up 3 days later, a servant of the Most High, with his sight restored by the hand of a man he was on his way to haul off and murder. God’s ways are so far beyond ours that they are hard for our minds to comprehend. Paul’s calling was different. He wrote several letters that brought strength, encouragement, and correction to the church. I’m not sure why what has been written this morning has gone the way it has. But I know this. The longer I walk with Christ the more I understand what HE has called me to. If you haven’t had the moment yet. I pray that you receive it better than I did. Spending years running. Today I am surrounded. Here I am, LORD, send me.
Prayer:
Father, I know from experience that you will stop at nothing to get our attention. To be honest, we are utterly amazed at your presence. You are truly breathtaking. I am asking you to do what only you can do. Create opportunities for us to encounter you. To go deeper in our walk, to seek out what you want us to do, and proceed with courage. We want to be used by you. We want to understand the calling you have given us. We know this life is not our own. It’s about your will for us, and we want to chase after that. Setting ourselves aside and stepping into what you have called us to. If that means we have no friends like Jeremiah, so be it. You are our driving force. Tell us what you want and give us the courage to move. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.