Are You Ready to Go?

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphim were standing above Him; 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 called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth. 4 The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.

King Uzziah died around 740 BC

Isaiah must have been going about his daily business when he has this life changing vision.

And his encounter was not with a heavy set black lady cooking soul food in a shack.

Catch a glimpse of Him.

Sitting on an exalted throne.

Wearing the most regal temple-filling robe imaginable.

Attended by fiery beings called Seraphim- six winged creatures, masculine,

Described as HOLY in the superlative… none other like him, the holiest of all by the wall rattling messengers.

Smoke (often used to described God’s glory, his Heaviness, His presence.

In verse 5 He will be described as THE King

This is the God of the Bible. He stands so big and high and outside of His Creation.

Have you met Him?

Isaiah Saw Himself as He Really Was

Isaiah 6:5–7 HCSB

5 Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts. 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed and your sin is atoned for.

What a beautiful picture.

Why lips?

What comes out of the mouth is what is in the heart.

He has just heard the Seraphim speak or maybe even sing of the holiness of God.

Isaiah had seen the Lord, the King… He’s in a panic.

God’s so Holy, He’s so dirty. God’s so exalted, he’s so lowly.

Isaiah says I’M destroyed.

But God has other plans. The Seraphim flew with a hot coal from the altar where sacrifice is made.

PSHHHH: your wickedness is removed and your sin is atoned for.

There at Calvary, once and for all, Jesus died for your sin and said IT IS FINISHED.

Have you seen yourself as the sinner you are in light of who God is?

Have you accepted that atoning death that Christ paid for on the cross?

Isaiah Saw Others as They Really Are

Isaiah 6:5 HCSB

5 Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.

Isaiah 6:8 HCSB

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Who should I send? Who will go for Us? I said: Here I am. Send me.

When Isaiah heard that God was looking for someone to send, He jumped at the chance.

He had been changed and He wanted others to hear.

In the verses that follow, God tells Isaiah that people will hear but not respond. Things are going to go from bad to worse, only at the end of the chapter does he give a glimmer of positive response.

He basically tells him in the following verses that the message he will send him to preach will not be received well by the masses.

Contrast that to the message that the false prophets were always preaching: Everything’s good, everything’s cool, yall just keep doing what you are doing, and God’s just gonna keep blessing.

In many ways it is like much of today’s preaching that is more about self-help and how to than it is how to know, love, and serve a Holy God.

Matthew 28:19–20 HCSB

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Let me be clear:

When you see God as He really is (HIGH AND HOLY AND LIFTED UP)

When you see yourself as you are (and undone sinner, who has been saved and forgiven by the God of the universe)

You ought to want everyone you know to know Him like you do.

Let me put this another way, if you find your love for lost people has grown cold, It may be that you need to go back to when you were saved, when your sins were forgiven. Revelation would call this returning to your first love.