In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. - Isaiah 6:1-5
An Encounter with Holiness
Imagine, just for a moment, how you would respond if you were in Isaiah's sandals the day he was given this vision. God not only gave him a picture of heaven, but also provided Isaiah a personal encounter with holiness that engaged his senses in a way that he would never forget.
Seeing 6-winged seraphims flying around the throne of God would probably be quite a shock to any of us.
Hearing their voices lifted up in unison to proclaim the holiness and glory of the LORD would probably bring most of us to our knees.
Feeling the door posts shake and smelling the smoke that filled the throne room would likely put us in a prostrate position before the throne.
Isaiah's response was that of fear; not just a reverent fear of the LORD, but he was actually frightened, and understandably so. Moses wanted to see God's glory and Isaiah knew that God had said to Moses, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and
live (Exodus 33:20).
So here was Isaiah, before the throne in heaven, standing in the midst of the holiness of God. No wonder his response was Woe is me! for I am undone.
Isaiah knew and confessed his sinful state and feared for his life, knowing he was not worthy to stand in the presence of the Holy One.
We often speak of wanting revival in our churches. Revival is needed now, in our time. Revival usually doesn't begin with evangelism. It begins in the hearts and lives of believers. We - me, you and every member of the body of Christ - we all need a personal encounter with the holiness of God, with a heart that cries out, "Lord change me!"
What attracts the world to true Christianity?
It isn't all the all activities or the music, though they can serve a purpose, that we have available in our churches. What attracts the unbeliever is authentic Christianity, as demonstrated in the life of a surrendered follower of Christ who has had a personal encounter with the holiness of God.
Father, You are holy, holy, holy. We confess that we are not but we want to see revival our time. We want to see You high and lifted up and your holiness and glory filling our lives, our homes, our churches and our communities. Give each of us a personal encounter with Your holiness, I pray. Bring us to our knees before Your throne and change us, Lord, for Your glory and for the building of Your kingdom. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.
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