Isaiah's Vision and Response

God hears and acts.

Isaiah saw the Lord of hosts in His splendor and glory. He heard majestic beings lauding the holiness of God. And as any human would, Isaiah was overwhelmed with his own uncleanness and sin: "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips."

God, because of His mercy and holiness, acted to remedy Isaiah's problem: "Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged." With Isaiah open and humbled before Him, God was not about to allow Isaiah's uncleanness impede his mission for God. So God cleansed him.

Isn't that terrific?! I think it is wonderful that God doesn't leave us overcome with our own inadequacies and sins. He hears the needy cry of our hearts and moves promptly and decisively to cleanse us.

Yes, us! Not just Isaiah. Not just the other historical men and women of God. Us! When we humble ourselves before Him and acknowledge our sins and our weaknesses, calling on Him for forgiveness and cleansing, God hears and acts!

No matter what my need may be, God hears and acts. If my lips have been soiled by guile, untruth, gossip, slander, foolishness, unkindness or profanity, God will touch my lips. If my eyes have been contaminated by a book, on the street, at a checkout stand, on the Web or by a catalog, God will touch my eyes. If my mind has been polluted by bitterness, rebellion, lust, greed, unforgiveness or covetousness, God will touch my mind.

And He will do the same for you, my friend!

Do you hear and respond?

First Isaiah saw and responded. Then God addressed his needs.

That prepared Isaiah to hear God ask, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Thanks to God's merciful intervention in his life, Isaiah no longer needed to be aware of his sin and inability. Instead he could respond with confident but humble availability: "Here am I; send me."

Have you heard God's call? If you haven't, you had better listen more closely! If you have, answer as Isaiah did. God wants to send each of His children to do something for Him. I am sure He wants to send you to at least one of these places:

The mission field. Many people groups have not yet been convincingly touched by the Gospel message. And in many countries, the churches beg for veteran Christians to come teach them the Way more perfectly. Hear?

The school room. Christian schools across the land suffer from a shortage of dedicated teachers and teachers' aides. School boards everywhere struggle to put together staff for another school year, hindered by a scarcity of funds or personnel or both. Hear?

The nursing home. All those aged and disabled folks pining away, wanting someone to sing with them, visit with them, pray with them, play with them. If you think you have your discouraging times, put yourself in their shoes. Hear?

The garden. Huh? Yes, the garden! You know, those places with soil to be tilled, weeds to be pulled and blisters to be made? The preacher's garden, the old lady's garden, the sick man's garden . . . hear?