(79) Isaiah Is Redeemed by Jehovah’s Grace

What happened when Isaiah saw the holiness of God and his wretched condition? Was there silence in Heaven for a moment? I can only imagine if I were in his place what would be going on in my mind. The words already expressed would continue to resonate in my head. My heart pounds. Tears flow freely from my eyes. I shake my head in complete bewilderment . . . with my own sinfulness. The thoughts that go through my mind . . . “O God, I am so unworthy to be in your presence. This is too much to bear. Your holiness! My sin! O God, forgive me. Have mercy on me. I have nothing to offer, nothing to claim. No explanations. No excuses. I am guilty! Woe is me! Take my life. I deserve no less.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.

“Your guilt is taken away. Your sin is atoned for.” Glorious, gracious redemption! Ruined and broken and hopeless before the majesty and holiness of God one moment. Redeemed and forgiven the next. All this as a free gift given at God’s initiative by His grace. The most beautiful words a sinner could ever hear in the presence of the burning glorious holiness of God: “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

When Isaiah was confronted with the holiness of God he was changed. He received a new purity from God. He was humbled by his impurity in the face of the holiness of God and bowed in repentance. God cleansed him. Isaiah was now set apart from sin. Isaiah had identified with the sinfulness of the nation. Now, God set him apart from the people as one who was now redeemed, one who was holy.

It is only when you see the glory of God’s holiness and the ugliness of your sin that you come to fully appreciate the glory of God’s grace. When you see the glory of God’s holiness you realize that it is only by an unmerited, unwarranted gift of God’s grace that you can stand before His holiness.
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