Are you a more casual person, or a more formal one? Society today does seem to lean more towards being casual, and the use of “Sir” and “Ma’am” has generally been put aside. This isn’t all bad, but too much casualness has often brought with it a lack of respect, including to those whose positions were always accorded a level of proper respect to be given. Casualness has even moved into our churches and worship services, including how we look at and treat God. In our Scripture today from the Prophet Isaiah, we read of a specific event that occurred in his life where he knew that being casual or too familiar was not an option. Let’s take a look.
Our Scripture passage describes a very important vision that Isaiah had at the beginning of his ministry, when the Lord called him to serve Him. This call of Isaiah took place in the year that King Uzziah of the Kingdom of Judah died, which was 740 B.C. When godly Uzziah died, Judah’s golden age was fast slipping away. At this time Isaiah saw a vision where he was in the heavenly throne room of Almighty God, and he described what he saw there, and his reaction to this sight.
Isaiah gives us a brief description of what he saw in this vision (vs. 1-4). The Lord God was seated upon His throne, which was high and lifted up in an exalted position, and His train, His royal robes were so magnificent that they filled the room. Attending the Lord God were seraphim, which were six-winged angelic creatures who continually fly in God’s presence, declaring His holiness. The word “seraph” (singular for seraphim) means “burning one”. Their praise of God is similar to that of the four living creatures seen in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 4:8).
If the sinless seraphim, in the presence of the Triune God, had to veil both their faces and feet, then how can any human think they are worthy, or able to stand in His holy presence, apart from having the righteousness of Jesus? In our churches today we sometimes over-emphasize God as our buddy or pal. There is a sense in which it is true that God is our friend, but we should not take our relationship with Him, the almighty, thrice-holy, omnipotent God too casually. We need to remember that “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts”!
God is absolutely pure, completely separated from sin, wholly righteous, just, and spotless. God calls us to be holy, as He is holy (I Peter 1:16). We can only do that through the cleansing Blood of Jesus, and power of the Holy Spirit.
As soon as Isaiah saw this vision of God upon His throne, with the seraphim calling out continual worship, he immediately recognized his sinfulness and unworthiness (vs. 5). He didn’t go up and approach God, patting Him upon the back or shoulder like an old school friend. Isaiah cried out “Woe is me, for I am undone!”, showing great sorrow and distress over his sinfulness. He knew that such a sinner as himself was unworthy to be in the presence of such a holy God as Yahweh. When we see the holiness and greatness of God, we will become aware of our own sinfulness. Both Job (Job 42:6) and Peter (Luke 5:8), came to the same realization about themselves when confronted with the presence of the Lord.
In response to Isaiah recognizing his own sinfulness, one of the seraphim took a live coal from the altar and touched his lips with it, declaring his sin was taken away (vs. 6-7). If the lips are unclean, so is the heart. We have, moment by moment, choices to make with our words. Will they be like some type of hazardous material, destroying everything they touch? Or do we allow God to touch and cleanse us from sin, so we can honor Him with everything we say?
When Isaiah confessed his sins and his unworthiness, God cleansed him, and equipped him for service (vs. 7). God then gave Isaiah a commission to go with His message (vs. 8). Jesus gave the disciples a similar commission (Matthew 28:19-20). This applies to everyone. Will we bring His good news to our workplace, our neighborhoods, our friends and relations? When God asks whom He should send, will we reply “Send Me”?
Holy! Holy! Holy! Before the sovereign God of the universe, there is nothing we can do but praise and worship our Creator and Redeemer. Whatever else takes place in heaven, we can be sure the atmosphere there reverberates with love and adoration for Him. Thrice-holy is our Triune God!
No comments:
Post a Comment