Life-Changing Encounter with God

God is seeking for people He will use for His work. He is seeking for those who are ready to receive Him and follow His direction. Those who want to have a life-changing encounter with God must be ready for genuine repentance and get prepared for His service, and they must respond to His call with obedience. Isaiah 6:8, Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Who shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here am I! Send me. The followings are discussed: A Vision of God; Cleansed for service, and Commissioned to Prophesy

A vision of God: Prophet Isaiah had done the work of God for years but much wasn't known about him until the circumstance which limited his recognition was taken away after death of King Uzziah. The King's reign was accounted for as the time of prosperity and well-being. He thought the achievement was by his effort that he lifted up his heart against the ordinance of God. In the process God smote him and he was removed as the king (2 Chronicles 26:1-14).

After Uzziah's death Isaiah was given a vision in which God was revealed in Glory and holiness with heavenly beings (the Seraphims) crying out and saying Holy, Holy, Holy. Their voice was giving reference to the exalted One, the sovereign and Almighty God (Isaiah 6:1-4). From the New Testament Christ is the One God has exalted and given a name above other names. John 12: 37-47 reveals Christ as the One Isaiah had seen. God is absolutely sovereign and His power has no limitations (Isaiah 46:10; Daniel 4:35).

Isaiah saw the beautiful picture of God with the heavenly beings revealing His majesty and splendour by their display around the throne. The heavenly beings also revealed God's nature in their threefold declarations: His holiness, His perfection and probably reference to the Trinity - The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. With their declarations the heavenly sanctuary was filled with God's presence and there was powerful manifestation of His glory. We must reference God and have it mind that one day we shall give an account of our lives to Him (Romans 14:12; Hebrews 13:4).

Cleansed for Service: Isaiah didn't let the vision go without response. He realised immediately that he was nothing to reckon with unless God showed mercy and saved him. He cried, 'woe is me! This was when he realised his broken and spiritual bankruptcy before God. He discovered how sinful and devastated a life spent without God was and saw the need for a renewed spiritual condition (Isaiah 6:5-7). In the light of God's holiness Isaiah's sin was fully exposed and was aware of his unworthiness. But God, being merciful responded to confession of his sin and renewed him. God is faithful and will respond to genuine repentance of a sinner (1 John 1:9).

Isaiah was called to prophetic ministry after he had been cleansed from sin (Isaiah 6:8 ). Before a believer can proceed with his calling to the ministry he must have been cleansed from sin. He must also show the willingness to do the work, and respond as Isaiah did, that is, 'Here am I send me'. All Christians are called to minister in one way or the other to those who have not been reached. God is seeking for people He will send to deliver His message and make His way known.

Commissioned to Prophecy: At first Isaiah was worried about the difficulty he would face with the people. Many had hardened their hearts and wouldn't respond to God's call for repentance (Isaiah 6:9-10). Those who continue to harden their hearts before God are in danger of His judgement. Pharaoh faced the consequences when he hardened his heart to God's judgment. Our hearts to God's message (gospel) should be like a fertile soil that can make spiritual truth grow and flourish (Matthew 13:1-23). Understanding the Bible and applying the word of God is a matter of the heart, and not the head. We must memorise the word, take it to the heart and allow  it to transform our lives.

We are likely to be disappointed as we reach out and preach the word because we will meet people who have hardened their hearts and opposed to the message of repentance. While the situation like that is inevitable, those doing God's work should not be discouraged. The 'holy seed' they are planting will remain. God doesn't have pleasure in punishment of sinners, rather he wants them to experience a life-changing encounter with Him. Lesson texts: Isaiah 6:1-3.