In the year King Uzzaiah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple… Above it stood Seraphim: each one had six wings… And one cried to another saying. Holy, Holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory… Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for us? Then I said, “Here am I, send me?” (Isaiah 6:1, 2, 3, 8).
God did not address, the call to Isaiah. Isaiah over-heard God saying “who will go for us”. The call of God is not for a special few, it is for everyone. The chosen ones are those who have gone into special relationship with God through Jesus Christ and they hear the still small voice asking “who will go for us?” It is not a question of God singling out a man and saying “Now you go” God will not come with compulsion and pleadings.
Isaiah answered by saying that he is available, ready and willing to be sent. Please note that Isaiah volunteered before he knew what the assignment was.
However, Isaiah was afraid that his perceived unworthiness could be a hindrance to his qualification of being sent.
A person’s percieved unworthiness should never discourage him from volunteering. God cleanses the person and forgives the sin. Once God has cleansed us, He makes us aware of our need to serve. He calls, most often, without revealing the exact nature of the call. We are not truly ready to follow Him until we are ready to accept the call without knowing all the requirements. We must answer immediately and without question. Be prepared and ready, knowing full well that the assignment may likely be unpleasant from the human perspective.
Too many people make excuses. We recall that prior to the sending out of the Seventy as Jesus assembled His labourers we read: “Then He said to another “Follow me” But he said, Lord, let me go and bury my father. Jesus said to him “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the Kingdom of God”. And another also said “Lord, I will follow you, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are art my house”. But Jesus said to him, “No one having put his hand to the plow, and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9: 59-62).
Then he turned to the “Seventy others” those who are ready to volunteer even before the assignment is revealed clearly. He said to them “the harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few, therefore pray the Lord of harvest to send out labourers into His harvest” (Luke 10: 2).
Jesus basically told his disciples “There are very few workers to do the work, so I want you to pray that the Lord will send workers. And when you pray, you will realize that it is you He is calling; so go. Jesus sent out the disciples two by two because there were vast arrears to cover and the time was short. Today, there are many departments in the ministry of Christ to be covered. It requires your time, treasure and talent to answer the call.
As you await His return this Advent season , please remember that Isaiah over-heard God saying “who will go for us?” and volunteered. Listen hard for God’s still small voice asking “who will go for us?” and your response should be “here am I, send me” Remember the warning of our Lord. “No one having put his hand to the plow, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God”.
Have a joyful Advent season with an ear for God’s call to serve.
Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
Igein Isemede