Isaiah 6, 9| The Two Things We Say In The Presence Of God

Have you ever wondered what you would say if you were transported to heaven (as some will soon be) and stood in the actual, visible presence of God? Isaiah, Chapter 6, gives us a clue and tells us much about God and us.

"YOU ARE HOLY!"

Look at Isaiah as his eyes were opened in a vision to see the throne room of God. It was glorious. God was seated on a throne, "lofty and exalted." The train from His robe filled the entire room.

Above Him were Seraphim, creatures designed to worship God (just as we are), and they could only repeat one phrase.

"Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts. The whole earth is full of His glory!" (vs. 3)

Holy means "different, set apart." No word could capture all that they saw of God except that He was and is wholly different than anyone or anything. And when they looked at the world, He had created, they said it was "full of His glory." They did not see it through human eyes but divine, and it radiated with God's nature and character. His glory.

"I AM UNHOLY!"

The first words from Isaiah's mouth as he viewed this glorious throne room tell us everything about us compared to God.

"Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." (vs. 5)

We walk among humans and compare ourselves to others alone. In that light, we vainly think we're doing good. But when we are in the presence of pure holiness, we see the truth. We are woefully sinful. Horribly unclean. And our unholiness is our ruin.

GOD'S MERCY

… Is seen in bold relief as one of the seraphim took a burning coal, touched Isaiah's lips, and cleansed him. We are unholy, but God is gracious to provide a way of cleansing, which He accomplished fully through Jesus Christ! We can even now if we have believed in Him, stand in His presence, clothed in Christ's righteousness and forgiveness. Nothing we could have done could have accomplished this cleansing. It had to be initiated and executed by God.

GOD'S CALL

And we realize there is a purpose for our days left on earth as we stand in His presence.

Then 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!" and He said, "Go, and tell this people ..." (vs. 8-9)

While we remain on this earth, we have one job that glorifies Him. We are to be His messengers. Paul would say "Ambassadors" among the people to bring God's simple, profound, life-changing words to others. That's our job today, and tomorrow, and every day that we live.

He is holy; we can be made holy, and so can others if we will cooperate with our holy God.

Father, thank You that we can set our minds on heaven, as Paul told us to do in Colossians 3. We can see You, even through a glass darkly, but enough to know who You are and who we are. Thank You for this clarity that humbles us. Thank You for the blood of Christ that cleanses us. And thank You for the purpose You give us for Your glory so more people can experience You for all eternity!