Isaiah 6:6-9 “Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people.”
Text II Corinthians 5:18-19 “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
In addition to the privilege of sight, “I saw also the Lord” (vs.1); came the privilege of sound, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord.” One brought the opportunity of sanctification; the other brought the opportunity of service. Within our text, is a divine principle that is consistent throughout the Word of God; the heart that has experienced salvation and sanctification is positioned for service. Paul exemplifies this truth when confronted by a Living Lord on the Damascus road; “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do” (Acts 9:6)?
There are three aspects of effective service set forth in Isaiah’s encounter with the Lord; the first being, a previous cleansing, “thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” Matthew Henry said, “The taking away of sin is necessary to our speaking with confidence and comfort, either to God in prayer, or from God in preaching.” In many cases today, the work of God suffers because defiled men are trying to perform a divine ministry!
The second aspect is a providential calling, “And he said, Go, and tell this people.” In this providential call at work in the life of Isaiah, we are made aware of the process of effective service. The very first thing that we notice is that Isaiah is made aware of the dilemma, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us”? God desires that there be reconciliation, where men are brought into right relationship to Him. If this is to occur the message of reconciliation must be declared by somebody, “who will go.” Having gotten clarity on the dilemma, we are made aware of the desire, “send me.” Isaiah had a desire to honor God with his life and was willing to be used in any capacity. Isaiah set no limitations on his willingness to serve God. Seeing the dilemma and expressing his desire, Isaiah is given the directive, “Go, and tell.” Isaiah can now enter the field of service with the full expectations that God will bless!
The third aspect is a persistent continuance, “Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate” (vs.11). God has made it clear; there is no place to quit in our service for Him. God said through the pen of the Apostle Paul, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).
A converted heart and a consecrated heart are the progenitors of a concerned heart! What Isaiah had experienced was worth expressing; “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:2). Having experience the privilege of the vision, have you expressed the product of the vision; “Here am I; send me.”