Isaiah Six (Part Two)

So you’ve found yourself in the presence of Christ. Is that it? Are you a changed person? Maybe, but maybe not.

When Isaiah found himself in the presence of Christ his response is very important. We have to pay close attention to his reaction. There are three things Isaiah does which I believe are crucial for us to do if we wish to walk in the fullness of being with Christ.

First off Isaiah looks inward at himself. The holiness of Christ caused Isaiah to see how sinful he really was. With his mouth Isaiah confesses “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips...”. Isaiah sees himself for who he really is.

Christian, sometimes, have a tendency not to see themselves as they really are. We can think we’re not too bad, or at least better than most. Sometimes we think as long as we’re not doing the “big” sins we’re okay. Hmm, not right thinking at all.

Of course maybe it not so much we don’t see ourselves, rather we don’t understand the holiness of God the way we should. Having a right view of God, and a right view of ourselves, is extremely important.

A friend once described humbleness as "having a right view of ourselves before God". You can’t have a right view of yourself, until you have a right view of God. Once we understand God, we can see who we really are, then we tend to find ourselves humbled. So Isaiah’s first reaction was to humble himself before God, and confess he was unclean.

After that Isaiah declares “and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips”. After being in the presence of The King, the Lord of hosts Isaiah understood how wicked his fellow countrymen were.

The same is true for us. We should find ourselves recognizing how base, and wicked the world around us is. I don’t know if Isaiah thought Judah was the standard for right and wrong or not, but God’s holiness exposed how unclean they really were.

As I continue to rest in the presence of Christ, He continues to change my perception of my culture. He exposes the ways in which I have adapted, or given in. It’s then I turn to Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Lord, please don’t let me conform to culture if it means compromising Your holiness!

It’s important to note verse seven too. After Isaiah’s confession the seraphim fly down to him with a hot coal and touches his mouth a says “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged [forgiven]." Isaiah's confessions lead to forgiveness.

The third reaction we need to understand is found in verse 8. When God asks “whom shall I send” Isaiah answers “Here I am. Send me.” Like Isaiah, after we’re in the presence of Christ, we should have the desire to be involved, or to be engaged.

One of the men whom I look up to very much has told me repeatedly “you can’t just take in The Word, you have to get it out too.” If I study, study, study, but never share what I’m learning eventually I’ll clam up. We all need to find ways to serve and minister, both to the body and to the world.

Isaiah’s request for God to send him was a direct response to understanding God’s holiness, and the lack of holiness in his fellow man. The holiness of God made Isaiah desire to see the same standard in Judah. Send me, use me, let me be Your messenger.

It’s not merely enough just to read The Word of God. Coming into the presence of Christ means change. We need to do the things The Word says. It means choosing holiness. It means confessing sin, and our lack of holiness. It’s about seeing the people around us the way God sees them. It’s also about getting involved and allowing God to use us as an instrument of change.

James says “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” This isn’t being in the presence of Christ. I would call this punch clock devotions!

Seek to be in the presence of Christ. When God reveals Himself to you, and shows you who you really are. Change. Be doers of The Word.