Undone, Yet Not Forsaken

Isaiah 6:1–7

Exposition
There are moments in life when we are suddenly aware of how small we are—standing under a night sky or at a loved one’s grave, we glimpse how fragile and fleeting we are. Isaiah had such a moment, but more terrifying than sublime. He saw the Lord.
“I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne… and the train of his robe filled the temple” (v.1). Angelic beings cry, “Holy, holy, holy,” and in the face of such majesty, Isaiah is undone. “Woe is me!” he cries, not out of false modesty but because, in the presence of absolute holiness, even our best selves unravel.

But the God who reveals also redeems. A burning coal touches Isaiah’s lips—not to destroy him, but to purify. Guilt is taken away. Sin is atoned for. It is a scene of terrifying grace.

Application
We often want God to feel safe. But holiness is never tame. And yet, in Jesus, we see the Holy One descending not with terror, but with mercy. On the cross, Christ became the coal—He bore the fire so we could be forgiven.

This frees us to confess, to come honestly before God. When we pray, we do not pretend we are good enough. We admit we are not—and that is where grace floods in. In work, in school, in friendships, we live not as those who must prove themselves, but as those forgiven and sent, like Isaiah, with the message: “Here am I. Send me.”

Transform Our Heart Through Prayer
Holy God, we tremble before your majesty—and yet you invite us near. Cleanse us, forgive us, and send us. May your holiness not crush us but transform us through your mercy in Jesus. Give us courage to speak and live as those who have seen the Lord.
 Amen.