"… Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8b
Early in the book of Isaiah, we are given a view of
a momentous episode in the prophet’s life.
It began with the death of King Uzziah, the tenth King of Judah. This death ushered in a time of uncertainty,
change and doubt for all for under his influence. During this time, Isaiah was given a vision,
one which change and transform him. In
the vision, he saw the Sovereign Lord in all his majesty situated in His rightful
place as the ruler of His creation. The
glimpse given to the prophet chastened and humbled him to the point that he
could only cry out, “Woe is me.” Isaiah’s
encounter with God left him with a true understanding of his own sinful
condition. As the vision continues, we
observe that one act by God removed Isaiah’s guilt and atoned for his sin. In
his forgiven state, Isaiah was able to declare, “Here I am! Send Me!”
A cleansed Isaiah was ready and willing to receive the call of the Lord
to service. However my brothers and
sisters, it does not end there… for you see, Isaiah was not given an easy message
to proclaim. To those who heeded his
call to repentance his message was hope and life. However, to those who rejected the message,
it was a call to judgment and death.
Isaiah was given a gift in this revelation but with it came a heavy
weight for he knew many would reject God call to repentance.
My brother and sisters in Christ, as we view this passage let us be
transformed. Let us again be reminded of
who we serve… the mighty Lord of Lords and the magnificent King of Kings… the
one and only holy and perfect Savior who freely offers salvation to all. However, let us not cower in fear and witness
to a false salvation but let us stand our ground! I have told the youth whom I teach over and over again
that those who stand on scriptural principles will, by many in our current
culture, be seen as close-minded, unintelligent, unenlightened bumpkins. However, we are given a message which
separates. Like Isaiah, we have been commissioned
to go and preach the Word to the nations, a complete, unaltered message that cannot
overlook sin, hardness of heart, judgment and sorrow, but a message that holds
out the hope of glory.
My brother and sisters in Christ, the Savior is coming and he is
coming soon. As we seek revival, let us
remember that just as Jesus charged His disciple after His resurrection to
preach a message of both hope and despair so He charges us likewise to …“Go ye
into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
(Mark 16:15-16)”