Isaiah 6:3-7 “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. 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.”

Text Rom 3:23 & 10:13 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; . . .  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This vision has had a phenomenal impact upon Isaiah; having eyed the privilege and being educated to the pollution, Isaiah is positioned to experience the purification! While it draws little attention; Isaiah’s experience illustrates the season of purification, “Then flew one of the seraphims unto me having a live coal.” While the means of purification had been appropriated in the past, the ministry of purification occurred in the application in the present! Isaiah’s purification must be preceded by Isaiah’s pollution; it was not until he was in agreement with God concerning his moral evil and habitual sinfulness that he was in the position to receive purification. Jesus made this truth clear when He said, “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17).

Isaiah’s experience illustrates the sovereignty of purification, “Then flew one of the seraphims unto me.” When we come to Isaiah 6, it becomes very clear that the entire purification process; the Sovereign’s vision and the seraphim’s visit, rest upon God moving toward man. Paul declared, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God exhibited His supreme love in a favorable manner in which it was acceptable and illustrated in His son’s death on the cross at a time when sinners chose to remain rebels against God.

Isaiah’s experience illustrates the source of purification, “having a live coal in his hand . . . from off the altar.” There are two thoughts worthy of consideration, the first being that it was a sacrificial source, “from of the altar.” The purification had come from a place that receives the offering of something precious to the Sovereign and sinner. It was a costly place; David illustrated this truth when he said “neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing” (II Samuel 24:24). The second thing is that it was a satisfied source, “having a live coal.” The only thing remaining of the sacrificial act was the “live coal” indicating that the act was complete and God was satisfied.

Isaiah’s experience illustrates the sufficiency of purification, “thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” To the delight of one that stands totally unfit before a righteous and holy God, Isaiah learned that his punishment for perverse and moral evil has been removed by being called back and the penalty for his offences of habitual sinfulness had been appeased and forgiven. Isaiah could say with joy, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

For all those that have eyed the privilege and been educated to the pollution; like Isaiah, you are now in the position to experience the purification; today is the day, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6); “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”