God IS Love but...

Opening Story

How do I struggle with this?

What an amazing day we live in. The world is crazy to say the least and seems to be falling apart but we serve such an amazing God that not only did He say this would happen but He is in full control of every second of every day. We live in such an exciting time to be sharing God’s Word with a broken and lost world.

Question

How do we all struggle with this?

If you are anything like me, you like to focus on the good. Like the love of God. Do you know that the word love is used hundreds of times in scripture?

God is Love, but...

It only says that God is love two times in scripture. Both in 1 John. (4:8, 16)

Text

What does the Bible say about this?

Isaiah 6 CSB

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth. The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. 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 Armies. 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. He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for. Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me. And he replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. Make the minds of these people dull; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed. Then I said, “Until when, Lord?” And he replied: Until cities lie in ruins without inhabitants, houses are without people, the land is ruined and desolate, and the Lord drives the people far away, leaving great emptiness in the land. Though a tenth will remain in the land, it will be burned again. Like the terebinth or the oak that leaves a stump when felled, the holy seed is the stump.

Isaiah 6:1 (CSB)

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple.

Isaiah wants to talk to God and he goes to the temple and starts us off with the funeral of king Uzziah which would have been approx. 740 B.C.

When royalty sat upon the throne at the time they would have a train on their robe. God’s train is so long, that it fills the temple.

Isaiah 6:2 CSB

Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

angelic creatures with their name meaning “burning ones”

Isaiah 6:3 CSB

And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth.

Have you ever heard the song that never ends. This is the song that never ends...

God is Love and that is said 2x’s in scripture.

God is directly called Holy over 400 times in scripture. I believe we may have our outlook of our God a little out of wack.

We must understand and acknowledge that our God is holy, holy, holy - set apart.

Isaiah 6:4 CSB

The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.

It is probably incense but I can’t help but to think about the meaning of the seraphim - burning ones.

Isaiah 6:5 CSB

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 Armies.

In God’s presence you and I will understand our sinfulness. We will not approach the throne with pride.

Isaiah 6:6–7 CSB

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. He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.

Fire can purify and this burning coal was taken from the altar where sacrifices were offered to atone for sin, preparing Isaiah’s lips for his task.

Isaiah 6:8 CSB

Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me.

“Who will go for us?” - Us?, the Trinity.

I want to be an Isaiah, I will go, I will go.

Isaiah 6:9–10 CSB

And he replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. Make the minds of these people dull; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed.

Isaiah is sent to the people of Israel and with him sharing the truth, the hardness of their hearts are brought to light, the blindness and deafness of theirs is brought to light.

When we preach God’s Word we will see these things. Only God, and only God through Christ can change one’s heart.

Isaiah 6:11–13 CSB

Then I said, “Until when, Lord?” And he replied: Until cities lie in ruins without inhabitants, houses are without people, the land is ruined and desolate, and the Lord drives the people far away, leaving great emptiness in the land. Though a tenth will remain in the land, it will be burned again. Like the terebinth or the oak that leaves a stump when felled, the holy seed is the stump.

Some will not repent, I know because the Bible tells me so. Judgment will happen, I know because the Bible tells me so.

God is Holy, I know because the Bible tells me so. I can be saved, I know because the Bible tells me so. Because of His Holiness, He has love for us.

Application

Whatshould you do about this?

Challenge

How can we all live this out together?