A NEW FOCUS
Isaiah 6:1-10
On April 14, 1865 the news of the assignation of Abraham Lincoln caused fear and panic among many! The man who had saved the nation was dead. Would the nation survive? Eighty years later on April 12, 1945, the solemn news reached the world that Franklin D. Roosevelt had died of a cerebral hemorrhage. Panic, gripped most of the nation – a great leader was dead. Would the nation survive? I think that history has proven that the destiny of nations does not rest in men but IN GOD! What we need from time-to-time is to gain a fresh focus upon God. David said in Psalm 121:1, “I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.” In today’s passage we see that Isaiah learned the importance of a new focus.
A New Focus Upon
the Majesty of God – v.1. Good king Uzziah was dead. He had reigned for 52 years blessed by God –
then to die as a leper; a great man – a great friend to Isaiah. But the real king of Israel wasn’t
dead. He wasn’t even sick! His presence filled the temple. (See also John’s vision of the glorified
Christ in Revelation 1:12-16.) We need a new focus upon Christ – the
head of the church – to see His majesty.
We need to have our eyes opened (Ephesians 1:17ff.)
A New Focus Upon the Holiness of God –vs. 3-5. Notice the Seraphim – a high class of angles expressive of God’s righteousness and holiness. Holy Holy Holy! God is not mundane although He works among the mundane. Whatever God touches, He lifts it up and elevates it out of the ordinary. What should the truth of God’s holiness do for the church? It gives an accurate standard by which to measure ourselves as sinners. We are able to get a fresh view of ourselves as we discover a fresh view of GOD. This is lacking in our churches today. The reason some churches don’t deal with their sin is because they have removed the standard by which sin is measured…the holiness of GOD! Confession is difficult but necessary.
A New Focus upon the Grace of God v. 6. God is gracious to forgive and restore. You don’t have to live with your sin and failure. Being confronted with our sin and failure as believers should not be a reason for discouragement. – but an opportunity to avail ourselves of His grace and forgiveness.
A New Focus Upon the Commission of God – v. 8. In Verse 3 note the singular, pleading voice of the trinity, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. God’s plan is still intact for Israel then – and for our church now. The task was difficult then - and it is now (II Timothy 4:1-4.) God is pleading, not for great ability but for simple availability. He always uses forgiven sinners (II Corinthians 2:14-16; Ephesians 4:17,18.)
A New Focus Upon
Our Commitment v. 8. “Here
am I – send me.” Great emphasis is made
upon availability. Isaiah was available
for whatever task. When you make
yourself available to Him, He may send you to a prayer ministry, a ministry of
encouragement, a ministry of giving, a ministry of helping or a ministry of
faithfulness. When you submit to God’s sending, whatever or wherever it is, you won’t
be happy anywhere else !
Finally the principal of application – Complacency is the most deadly disease that can affect the Body of Christ. Complacency is a form of paralysis that affects us in every area of our life - regarding God, ourselves, and our task. However, there are times when God applies the shock treatment – not to drive us away but rather to gain our attention! The cure for complacency is: a new focus! God bless.
Yours for a new focus,