Our encounter with a Holy God changes the way we serve God. Isaiah was a godly man, a priest serving in the Temple. By all accounts he ranked right up there with the best the human race could offer: Abraham, Job, Moses, David, Gandhi, Confucius, or Billy Graham. One day as he was serving God he was granted a vision of God sitting on his throne, lifted up and exalted above everything else. The first thing he noticed was that God glory filled the earth. He saw seraphs, six-winged creatures, flying above the throne of God. With one pair of wings they covered their faces. With the second pair of wings they covered their feet, and with the third pair of wings they flew. As they circled the throne, they cried, “Holy, holy, holy is the lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” The sound of their voices shook the door posts and lintels, and smoke filled the Temple.
Isaiah’s reaction went beyond awe. He immediately became “undone” and saw the sinfulness of his sin and the sin of his people, God’s chosen people. He cried, “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the Lord!” Sin cannot exist in the presence of Holiness. It must be removed. Because Jesus had not yet come, a seraph took a red hot coal from the altar and touched it to his lips saying, “Your guilt is taken away and your sins are atoned for.” Later we will consider the need for atonement, redemption, and salvation in greater detail. For now, suffice it to say that when we give our lives to follow Jesus, our guilt is removed through his blood and we may enter boldly before God’s throne.
Isaiah has seen and heard many fascinating and highly unusual things. Now he hears God ask, “Whom shall I send” And who will go for us?” Without hesitation Isaiah answers, “Hinani shelachni!, Here am I! Send me!” There was no hesitation. Gone were any thoughts of “What am I getting myself in for?” or “What is going to cost me?” or “What will this require I give up?” or thought like “I am not worthy” or “I can’t do this” or “I don’t have time.” Whatever God wanted him to do he was willing and trusted God to equip him to do it — even if it meant his life. Seeing the wonderfulness of God’s holiness removed every doubt, every hesitation, every excuse to serve God 100%!
Question: If you had Isaiah’s experience, how would that change your commitment to serve God? Or would it change you at all?
Tell the Next Generation 