The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1946-09-26
ISAIAH'S VISION
By. REV. M. S. Casio


TEXT, Isa. 6: ST. Then said I,
Woe is me; for am undone; be-
cause / am a man of unclean lips
Then flew one of the sera-
phim 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."
This is one of the most remark
able chapters of the Bible. 1t re-
veaIs the Divine provision and
process of personal redemption and
fitness for the service of the King.
This man was a chosen vessel, a
prophet, with a trying commission
ahead. But while the minister is
to be a pure vessel, "sanCtified and
meet for the Masters USE" so are
Gods saints. There is one stand
ard of Righteousness for all those
who would dwell in the eternitieS
with the Holy Trinity and the re-
deemed of all ages. Here was
crisis in Isaiahs life. And the mo-
ment divine grace touches the hu-
man soul in the process of redemp-
ton is always a crisis whether we
remember the day and date or not.
There is something unique about
this experience. Not all men have
such visions God dealt with the
Ethiopian eunich quietly through
the Holy Scriptures, but he chose
an earthquake to arouse the con-
science of the Philippian jailor.
There is one common experience
however, to all penitent persons
''Woe is me, for l am undone".
I-There is a description of the
vision. The place is the temple.
There are no great revelations for
those who are ignoring Gods
house. This man evidently seeking
God as a course of life.
He sees the infinitely holy One
in His majesty. The attendants are
engaging in a sublime liturgy,
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, is THE
LORD OF HOSTS. Here was
throne of glory before which all
must hide their faces; a throne of
government before which all must
bow the knee; a throne of grace
before which all penitents may
come for grace to help in time of
need.
Then, Isaiah sees himself, and
this is awful. What a contrast
There he stands like the poor pub
Iican in the temple condemned
under the piercing gaze Of Him
who sits on the throne, and in the
presence of the holy attendants. Is
there no hope? Yes, there is great
hope for this man and every man
who will humble himself under
the mighty hand of God.
live see the effect of the Wis
ion upon Isaiah.
An overwhelming sense of sin,
personal sin 'I am undOne". He
sees himself against the back
ground of holiness; his darkness
and coldness in contrast to the
heat and light and zeal of the
Burning Ones. Il cannot sing,
for my lips are unclean; | cannot
see God, for only the pure in heart
see Him; cannot carry Gods
message, for they must be clean
that bear the vessels of the Lord.
Then his confession. 1t is short
but sincere. God does not require
many words if the heart is in
them. There was no self-justifiCa-
ton, no reference to the hypoCriteS
in the church or out of it. Like
Paul he felt himself the chief of
sinners.
Then followed his cleansing. Fire
is a symbol of the Holy Spirit in
His office of Sanctifier. The live
coal was from the ALTAR. The
sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Cal
vary's cross is the only solvent
which can make our garments
clean. Sins stains defy every other.
No strange fire will do. HE shall
baptize you with the Holy Ghost
and with fire" said John the Bap-
tlst. The atonement of Jesus applied
to the sinner in pardon, and to the
believer in sanctification, is Gods
way to save. The fire was applied
to the afflicted part. The Great
makes no errors in dag
noSis.
Finally, his commission, GO and
tell this people. Not ready before,
now he is ready. There is no inward
obstacle which worst of all OBJ
stacles. A life yielded to its Maker,
redeemed by faith in our atoning
Lord, is needed in our world. Dear
friend, may God count on you?