Spotlight of Heaven

Not so long ago, I had an early start to my day. Not wanting to wake up the household, I thought I would get ready in the closet and not turn on any other lights. The plan went perfectly. I was able to get out of the house without any disturbance.

Driving down the road several miles, the sun began to come out. Smugly smiling and drinking my coffee, reflecting on my great accomplishment of not disturbing anyone, I just happened to look down and to my amazement, the white blouse that I had put on…..wasn’t completely white. It was stained. The pale stains didn’t show by the closet light, but certainly did in the sunlight.

Isaiah had a spiritual experience in Chapter 6 that was even more revealing in the light of God’s holiness. Isaiah was the son of Amoz and lived in Jerusalem during the reign of four Kings. He was educated, gifted, acquainted with royalty and gave prophetic counsel to Kings. Throughout his life, Isaiah was a prophet used by God.

It began in chapter 6 when Isaiah is first commissioned by the Lord as a prophet and his life call. Needless to say, Isaiah knows the Lord and was given opportunities to prepare himself for service best he knew how. Then it happens. In chapter 6, God gave Isaiah a vision and proper understanding of what he was called to and his preparation fell short of God’s holiness. When Isaiah saw the majesty, the glory and holiness of the Lord, not only did he see God in a different light, he saw himself in a different light as well.

Isaiah’s response to the vision through the light of this revelation was, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:4-5). What a shock to Isaiah to be seen through the light of God’s perspective.

The good news is that as God shines a brighter light on our life, it is so that we are willing to accept His help and move us to His standards. Verse 6 continues with, “Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” That is the most incredible clean-up ever. It just wasn’t available to Isaiah; it is available to us all.

Guess what came next for Isaiah? He was commissioned by God to be His representative. His ministry spanned over 50 years and even included the prophetic word of the coming Messiah. Isaiah didn’t do a cover-up when the spotlight of heaven revealed a clean-up was needed. He allowed God to do what was necessary to be able to bring the good news to others.

Isn’t that what we have the opportunity to do when God shines His bright light on flaws in our life that will hinder holiness and effectiveness? Getting ready in a dimly lit closet, resulted in embarrassment in sunlight. Be open and responsive to the Son’s light. He has called us to be His representative that reflects His holiness. May we say as Isaiah did,” Lord send me!”