Here I am! Send me!! Send Me!! Isaiah 6:1-13
One day, some 2500 years ago, a religious man by the name of Isaiah went to church. While he was there he suddenly discovered God’s presence in a most different way. No, This was not the first time he attended the Temple of God. As a matter of fact, he was a frequent visitor there. And in addition to have very good worship habits, Isaiah was a good man, who lived a good life and was known by everyone, both by friends and by enemies as being honest, honorable, and trustworthy. Then why wasn’t the presence felt and experienced before? Well, I’m not sure it wasn’t. Of course he felt and experienced God’s presence in worship before then. The difference was in the manner and purpose for which God revealed Himself at that time. You see, while we come to church to worship God and thank Him for the blessings that He gives us on a daily basis, the specific purpose varies from time to time and occasion to occasion.
Let me illustrate: we were all here on September 8th, 2012 to celebrate the wedding of Lauren and Ryan or you may remember the great service we had for Robert Moeller as we laid him to rest. The specific purpose was different each time, and God’s presence was felt and experienced in a different way each time. The reason for going to church then was different than it was when you attended church last Sunday or this morning. Though God was equally present in all the services, His presence was felt in a different way for rather obvious reasons. Yes, the specific purpose often makes the difference.
And so we ask: What was the specific purpose or occasion that caused Isaiah to sense God’s presence so dramatically on that day long, long ago? God’s invitation, God’s call, God’s summons—that’s what! What did God ask Isaiah to do on that day long ago? The same thing He asks and calls all of His followers to do today and that is “to be His witnesses!” To testify to the truth concerning God to all those around us and to generations that are lost.
And that is what I want to talk about this morning as I talk about “Who will go?” Yes, this invitation is indeed for each of us. It applies to everyone who, through faith, has come to know God’s love in Christ. But, while the invitation, “Who will go?” applies to everyone, us no less than others, on that day in the temple God made it clear to Isaiah that he personally was included. This naturally forced him to consider the question and give it some thought. And the more he thought about it, the more embarrassed he became, and it forced him to look at himself honestly and sincerely. And you know, when we look at ourselves honestly, we don’t always see what we would like to see. Well, such was the case in the Temple that day. God’s question: “Who will go?” forced Isaiah to look at himself. And he didn’t like what he saw. That is why he was embarrassed.
Today God is asking the same question of you and me, personally and individually, here and now. But as I look into your faces and down deep in your heart, I don’t see, sense, or feel the same embarrassment Isaiah felt when he said, “Woe is me!” Why? Why is it that so many of us seem to take God’s presence so casually, so passively, or so indifferently? The reason, I believe it is because the dramatic presence of God is not recognized as clearly by us as it was by Isaiah, that’s why. For him, God wasn’t some indifferent, impersonal, or undisciplined force out there somewhere whom man merely puts up with or tolerates. On the contrary, He recognized and acknowledged as One from Whom no one can hide, escape, or run away from. And because Isaiah realized this, he willingly, gladly, instinctively responded with, “Here am I, Send me! Send me!”
Oh, if only more of us could sense and feel God’s presence in our lives, not only while we are here in church but wherever we are and in whatever we are doing. Do you sense God’s presence this morning? My hope and prayer is that you take God’s presence more seriously and I pray that each of us is tuned into God’s presence. I pray that God will show you His presence in a way that will take hold of you like He did with Isaiah. But even if you don’t, the fact remains that God is just as real today as He was some 2,500 years ago, and His desire to have you as His witness, to testify to those about you concerning Him, is the same as it was when He approached Isaiah directly and asked, “Who will go?”
Yes, Isaiah knew God as his loving and compassionate Lord. Who would in His own will and time, fulfill the promise made to Adam and Eve way back in the beginning. But as he stood in the awesome presence of God, he suddenly became aware of his own sinfulness, and the sinfulness of those around him. That’s why he cried out, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” He suddenly realized that his private life hasn’t been so private after all. He realized that God knew that he wasn’t as honorable, charitable, devout, and selfless as he had claimed. And this was humiliating and embarrassing. But in spite of his imperfections he knew and believed that God had a place for him in His plans never the less. This is what gave him the courage and confidience to respond affirmatively, positively, and courageously.
My friends, as we stand in God’s presence this morning, we too, cannot help but confess, “Woe is me…I am a man/woman of unclean lips.” But we don’t stop there and shake in despair. On the contrary, we join Isaiah in spite of our sins and say, “Here an I! Send me! Send me!”
Isaiah, as some of you may know was the Condoleezza Rice or Hillary Clinton of his day. He was King Uzziah’s personal confidante for many years. He was known and respected by the citizens of Judah as a wise and faithful counselor to the king. When the king died, Isaiah did what all God-fearing people do. He went to church, to the temple of God, to pray. While he was there he sensed God’s presence in a dramatically different way. At first he didn’t know what to make of it, but then God spoke and said, “Your days of a politician are over. I now want you to be a preacher, a prophet, a Billy Graham…” Stunned he tried to picture himself in his new role, but found it difficult. After all there is quite a bit of difference between the role of a politician and the role of a preacher. Not unlike my history of the role of “The Culligan Man” and now a pastor. But as shocking as it was he replied, “Alright God, if this is want you want, Here am I! Send me! Send me!”
Death does different things to different people. Some it drives to the brink of despair or others like Isaiah, it drives them to the hands of God. But my friends, whatever happens to you, whether it is good or bad, happy or sad, may the example of Isaiah be for you the pattern to follow. And after you come into God’s presence, listen to Him as He speaks to you through His Holy Word and through the blessed Sacraments, for then, and only then , will you be able to respond positively, confidently, God pleasing as he did.
How about you my friends? God’s call to you may not be to pack your bags and go to Haiti, China, of even Africa. He might not even be asking you to leave for a weekend mission trip. But we are all called to witness through our lives the love that God gives us in Christ to those whom we encounter on a daily basis. I know this isn’t always the easiest thing in the world to do, and you could probably find 101 reasons why you shouldn’t. But when you realize that He who is calling is none other than the King of King and Lord of Lords, you cannot but respond to this question, “Here am I! Send me! Send me!”
Before we end, let’s look at some of the people sitting here this morning that have responded to God’s call upon their lives. For instance, Libby, She never thought she could teach a bible study, yet she has now started her second “Women’s Bible Study” and folks most of the attendees are not members of this church. Or D. Wayne and his transformation/one on one ministries helping the people he teaches see the truth from scripture. Or Zach, just out of high school and leading our youth ministries. These people have responded to God’s call and some whom were not very sure they could do it. But, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
It bears repeating folks, when you realize that He who is calling is none other than the King of King and Lord of Lords, you cannot but respond to this question, “Here am I! Send me! Send me!”
Amen!
