Called to Fail

Where am I? Who is that sitting on a throne? His robe is incredible. It’s filling every part of the floor.

Those beings over the throne…who are they? Why do they have wings…six wings on each one? They’re using two to fly with, but why are they covering their face and feet?

The seraphim spoke in antiphonal chorus. “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty. The whole earth is full of His majesty.”

Their sound is so amazing. It’s even making the door posts I’m standing near shake. That must be…Oh, I’m done. My mouth is so foul. How can I be in the presence of God?

One of the angels flew to the burning altar, picked up the tongs and carried a live coal to Isaiah. He placed it on the man’s mouth. “This has made atonement for your sins. You are safe now.”

God looked at him. “Who shall we send to tell My message?”

Isaiah stepped forward. “Send me. I’ll do it.”

“Go and say, ‘hear, but don’t listen. Look, but don’t see.’ Dull their senses so they won’t do anything about what you say, otherwise they’ll turn and be saved.”

Isaiah swallowed the lump in his throat. “How long will this last?”

“Until the cities are abandoned, the houses are vacant and the land is desolate and resting. I will remove them far away, but I will leave a remnant. A tenth will remain like the growth from a stump after a tree is cut down.”

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The call of the Prophet Isaiah is one of the most incredible accounts in all the Bible. The symbolism is so rich. Messages are littered all over the retelling of it all.

I don’t want us focusing on that. We’ll let the scholars hash all that out.

Since this is a series on prayers in the Bible I want us to ponder the message God told Isaiah to announce.

This was definitely a divine call of a man by God Himself. Isaiah even got to live after seeing God on His throne. He interacted with the angels who attend God in worship.

How could Isaiah say ‘no’ to the Creator of the universe. So he didn’t.

But, then he asks for clarification of what his job will entail and how long it will last.

In today’s numbers-happy culture we’d expect a grand awakening or incredible revival. Instead Isaiah is told he’s going to me an epic failure.

Isaiah was given the unenviable task of telling the last generation before Judah’s exile what God wants them to hear, but they won’t listen.

I often wonder if Isaiah wanted to back out of this calling at this point. I know I would have wanted to.

I think that’s why God set up this grand show of Himself to Isaiah before He let him know what he was going to do.

Isaiah would have this memory and experience to hold him firm to his mission.

I’m so glad Isaiah was obedient, otherwise we’d have missed out on some of the most incredible Messianic prophecies in the entire Bible.

So, what does this all have to do with us?

I was afraid you were going to ask that question. I’m not sure you’re going to be comfortable with my answer.

I truly think we’re at the same place Isaiah was at in his life.

History has proven that the most powerful civilizations last approximately 200 years. The United States of America has passed that threshold.

Many experts believe China is developing into the next world power. I’m not saying that’s bad or good, I’m just making an observation.

Looking around the world today I have one thing to say.

At best America in on the decline, at worst the entire world is near the end of its existence.

The nation of Israel, then the divided nations of Israel and Judah, were God’s chosen race of people who would bring about God’s redemption.

They were promised prosperity if they obeyed God’s laws and exile if they chose to not obey.

That’s a simple formula that’s complicated to carry out.

Power corrupts. Jesus confronted the religious leaders of His day for that very reason.

It’s human nature to want to take control out of God’s hands so we can get our own way. The breakdown of too many marriages have littered God’s people for that very reason.

Governments today are getting folks to depend on them more and more so they can control them. People are more comfortable with someone they can see having that type of control.

That’s not God’s ideal. He’ll put a stop to this nonsense someday…it could be soon.

That’s what makes our life like Isaiah’s. We have a message from God to tell. People don’t want to listen to it but we must still tell it.

What they do with it is their responsibility. Giving God’s message is our responsibility.

God never blamed Isaiah for folks not listening. He knew it was going to happen.

God loves people so much He wants to give them every possible means of coming into His kingdom. He’ll keep begging them to listen by sending His message as often as possible.

God promised Isaiah a tenth of the people would remain. If only a tenth of today’s people respond that’s still an amazing amount of people spending their eternity with God to experience His love.

They won’t make that decision if they never hear God’s message. We’re being sent with that message of love, forgiveness and grace.

I’m amazed every time I hear of someone in the United States of America who hasn’t heard who Jesus Christ is.

That’s why I volunteer when my church puts packages together for the homeless and poor.

That’s why I write God’s message in as many ways as I can.

That’s why I love each individual I come in contact with.

I’m God’s message and so are you.

Jesus came to personify God to us.

We must go and tell.

I’ll see you later.   Wade