Today's reading is Isaiah 6.1
Isaiah 6 begins with...
"1 In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple."
In the midst of a national shock, where all wonder what will happen next, Isaiah sees the Lord. It is a reminder to him, and to us, that rulers and nations come and go, but the Lord remains forever. Politics by nature is transitory. The debates that happen in state capitols and nationally in Washington seem important, and often are, to us. But, when governments have come and gone, the Lord remains constant. Politics by nature is focused on the temporal, and usually involves the "power" of a group "over" those who don't have the power. Sometimes rebellions occur among minorities, but usually those who have "power over" win the day. The temptation to become frustrated with politics is real. When those who we agree with are in power we defend; and when those who we disagree with rule, we complain and vilify. It is crucial to recognize that, as a Christian, the Lord is constant. He is not swayed from his purposes by politics. He is not cheering, nor writing letters to the editor. The Kingdom of God is a place of his rule and all who enter into it are under his rule...regardless of the earthly citizenship they belong to.
Jesus reminded us, "seek first the Kingdom...", and Paul wrote, "I urge...requests, prayers, intercession...for Kings and all those in authority..."
We do not withdraw from the culture, nor do we put our trust and faith in those who govern. They, like us, are part of a "fallen" people. Their sin, like ours, is more real than we want to admit. They, like us, need the grace and forgiveness that comes from trusting in Christ Jesus. It is "the Lord" that is constant. It is the Lord who will remain when all the rest have gone on into eternity.
Seeing God gave Isaiah eyes to see himself. Unclean. His surroundings revealed how bad things were. Anything but holy. When God touched Isaiah he enjoyed forgiveness and cleansing and a new readiness. God revealed himself to Isaiah and Isaiah responded, "Lord, I'll go! Send me."
That can be our story. In light of God's holiness, we come undone. "Woe is me! I'm an unclean person among unclean people. Now that I really see you, Lord, I see myself. Help!" And God does help, with a grace greater than our sin. His holiness is great, and so also his grace is also great, for it covers every sin of ours that must offend the purity of his holiness. "Come, let us tell of the LORD's greatness; let us exalt his name together" (Psalm 34:3).
Peace
If you're reading along with me in the Bible-in-a-year plan, read today: 1 Samuel 15, 16, 17
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
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