Who will go for us?

http://bible.com/116/isa.6.1-13.nlt
It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.
Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”
Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.
Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”
Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people,
‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’ Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.”
Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?”
And he replied, “Until their towns are empty, their houses are deserted, and the whole country is a wasteland; until the lord has sent everyone away, and the entire land of Israel lies deserted. If even a tenth—a remnant—survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.”

What an amazing testimony.

To see the Lord.

To hear the angels singing His praises.

How could one return to life here on earth and not be overcome with longing for the presence of God? How could life not seem so dark in comparison once one has stepped into such a presence.

And the fear that must be struck into a heart who truly understands the glory of God and how wonderful it is in comparison to one’s own life example. Oh, I can barely imagine being in the presence of the Lord, fallen on my face if I am reminded of my shortcomings, but so in awe of His presence that I just want to bathe in it and sing His praises eternal like those angels who never leave His presence, singing eternally of His glory. The fear and the love and the grattitude and the amazement all wrapped into an experience that escapes the confines of this tiny little mind of mine.

And to be told, in His very presence, that my sins are forgiven! Such a gift, such a blessing, for such a sinner as me. How could one not be overwhelmed by this gift alone if not already ripped apart by being in the presence of the Lord?

Can you imagine the joy, the eagerness, to hear an opportunity exists to thank the Lord for such an undeserved honor? To hear that He is seeking a messenger to tell the world about Him? To have the opportunity to respond, “Send me, Lord, I will go.”

Do we think this is some story about Isaiah? Do we imagine in awe what this would have been like? Do we not understand this is about us?

Has He not touched you and told you that you are healed, that you are free from sin, that you are born again as His? If not, surrender your life to Christ now, and know His grace and mercy, friend!

Has He not told us that if we are His that we should go forth and make disciples of the world? But if we don’t understand what has been done for us, do we miss out on this opportunity and fail to jump at the opportunity?

You see, we are either being sent forth as messengers, or we are the ones in need of the message. There isn’t any middle ground on this friends. We either have the message or we don’t. We either are filled with the Holy Spirit of the Word of God, or we are not. We either have understanding, or we do not.

So the question becomes are we a messenger, or are we in need of His healing touch so that we can hear His message, and so that we can share it – because we are called to make disciples, to be messengers.

Man, I don’t know if anyone else is hearing this… but that right there is a good Word. That right there is Good News! We are meant to spread this Word, not be afraid because we don’t have all of the answers. We are messengers, spread the message!

And no, not all are called to teach, but we are each called to share this Good News as a messenger, otherwise can we say that we have received it, or can we say that we love our brothers and sisters from whom we are withholding such amazing and glorious Good News?

Maybe this is just for me, but that’s good stuff right there! It encourages me to stand up, and say, “Send me, I will go. ” because the Lord doesn’t call us to fall.

He doesn’t save us to grave us.

He gives so we live.

He speaks so we seek.

So let’s go!

Let’s wake up, let’s get to work!

And if we find others not working, not sharing this Good News –

let’s share it, and either be sharpened by a fellow messenger, or be encouraging one another towards the healing that needs to take place so that we might each hear and understand and know and share this message.

Hear the call, messengers!

Do not delay.

Repent, for the time of the Lord is close at hand.

Hear the call, spread the Word.

Christ returns for His bride!

Make way for the Lord’s triumphant return!