Prepared and Sent

Introduction

There are always certain passages in the bible that bring excitement when you read them. For me one of those passages is Isaiah 6:1-13. There is vivid imagery of the throne of God and something incredible that happens. Truth is there are many passages like this in the bible where we find God talking with and commissioning people for work. It is something that today happens all around us yet we don’t see it or talk about it because we misunderstand the bible to be just about the past. In truth though God’s work has never stopped and today is about the preparation that made Isaiah ready to be sent.

Problem in the passage

Isaiah had just seen one of the good kings pass away and likely felt the pressure that people would go back to their wicked ways and all the progress that had been made with getting people back on track worshiping God would be undone now that King Uzziah had died.. When Isaiah realized he was in the throne room of God and saw this incredible seen of the Holy God and all of his glory. He thought he would perish. When you are surrounded by wickedness and you feel helpless to do anything about it you feel your guilt weighing you down. I am sure Isaiah likely did not live a pure life before this and now he was facing God and his court. All of his past sins weighed him down and he knew his guilt before God. Surely he would perish as God does not accept sin nor tolerate it so he was going to perish.

I am equally sure Isaiah was not expecting anything but to be judged that day.

Problem in the world

It is easy to relate to this aspect of the passage in knowing our own guilt, knowing that if we were to face God today, we likely would not feel too perfect standing before Holy God. It is much easier to think of or remember our past mistakes, all those times where we have not been too loving towards God or our neighbor. It is easy to think of all the unloving things we have spoken. It is easy to see when we have turned a blind eye towards justice. It is impossible to think of standing before God and expect anything but judgement. Surely we too deserve to perish. It is hard to think anything else would happen to be made accountable for all of our sins.

Grace in the passage

Yet God did not judge Isaiah but instead purified Isaiah so he could be sent to proclaim God message to the people. Isaiah cried out and confessed his guilt and his deserved punishment and in turn an angel took a coal, a holy fire from holy altar and touched his mouth. This holy fire cleansed him of his sins and guilt. This cleaning freed Isaiah from the guilt and burden his sins had condemned himself by. Somehow God saw past all of his past sins and saw a new future for Isaiah. God knew the wickedness of the people and even Isaiah’s own sins. Without questioning him and without hesitation or conditions, God purified Isaiah by his holy fire.

Now Isaiah had been set free from the burden of guilt and sin, he was eager to go into God’s mission work. No longer did he feel unworthy and only deserving of condemnation but he was free and full of joy at being able to serve God in response to this great gift that had been given him. It was a hard mission and one in which Isaiah would not see any fruit yet he was still fully committed to the task given him. He was free and made ready to serve.

Grace in the world

Today we too can experience God’s grace in the same way Isaiah experienced it. There is a burden of sin and guilt that weighs us down and prevents us from being free. We condemn ourselves daily and accept that judgement is inevitable and we know our fate is not looking good when we have to face God.

Yet, we misunderstand God just like Isaiah in that God wants to set us free from guilt and sin in a way that lights a holy fire in our hearts to truly love God and our neighbor. A holy fire that can burn bright within us bringing us joy and light in the darkness that surrounds us.

While we may not physically be standing in God’s throne room right now, our Savior is. Our Savior has covered our sins and guilt by his own blood shed on the cross for all humanity. For all the saints and sinners alike, Jesus Christ has atoned for our sins and guilt. In response we are empowered to freely serve God. We can be set free if we believe in our hearts Jesus Christ has atoned for all our sins. We believe God loves us and we love God. We believe we are set free from the guilt of sin and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve God with gifts and services.

Perhaps you need another reminder today. Today as we take communion, remember you have been invited to God’s table. We confess our sin and guilt before God, and God faithfully forgives us. We are free and forgiven to come to the table of God and partake the spiritual body and blood of Christ to nourish our souls and prepare us to serve.

Today is the day to prepare for being sent wherever and to whomever God sends you. It is God who equips you for the work and it is God who had made you worthy for the work.