(An Address on Isa. 6)
CONVICTION of sin is often followed by a long course of repentance ere cleansing is known-by the soul. The deeper the ploughshare of conviction goes the better will be the result. The seed has a better bed if the furrow be deep. Superficial conversions are the result of shallow convictions. Such is not the case in the instance before us here, and the way pardon and peace are obtained is deeply interesting, for we learn there from the deep desire on God’s part to meet the need of an anxious trembling soul.
Cleansed!
Isaiah presents here the picture of a thoroughly awakened and aroused sinner. Note what follows: “Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: and he laid it on mg mouth and said, Lo, this has touched thy lips, and thy iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.’”
You may say, “What is the meaning of the altar?” It is a figure of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, That is why the apostle says, “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle” (Heb. 13:1010We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. (Hebrews 13:10)). Christ, who has died for sin, has presented Himself without spot to God, a holy sacrifice for an unholy sinner. Here, in figure, are the altar and the sacrifice.
Now see what the seraph does. He “flew,” having in his hand a live coal. This live coal told a tale. It told of a sacrifice consumed. The claims of the throne had been met by the altar. In the same way the claims of God’s throne have been met by the atoning sacrifice and death of the blessed Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary. I do love to think that the Lord Jesus has met all those claims. I turn back to the time when He was the Sin-bearer, bearing the sins of many, and He has not only borne the sins, but He has borne the judgment due to those sins.
And now the seraph flew with the live coal. With it he touched Isaiah’s lips. Do you think he did not feel it? My dear friend, he felt it, and when God brings the gospel home to your heart, you will feel it too. What Sties he then learn? “Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged” (vs. 7). Thank God, for that blessed result. You may know the same. How? By your prayers, or works, or reformation? No. You cannot give the toil of your life for the sin of your soul, but the Son of God has given Himself. “He who knew no sin, was made sin.” “He bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” “The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Here the seraph touches the lips of this thoroughly awakened man, and says, “Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” Do you think Isaiah believed it? I am persuaded he did, and I like the word “Then flew one of the seraphim.” He hastened to relieve him. God loves to give peace to an anxious soul, now as then.
I remember a Christian, who used to be a terribly godless fellow, telling me the story of his conversion. He had gone to Australia, buried himself in the backwoods, and there was living the life of the prodigal son in distance and moral degradation. His parents and family betook themselves to prayer for his conversion. One day as he went on horseback many miles to post his usual monthly letter, he became in the most remarkable way suddenly conscious of his sins. They rose up before him like a fearful cloud. Memory called up the sins of his life, and he became a deeply convicted sinner. Having posted his letter, he turned again to go back. Every mile he rode his misery deepened, and at length he reached his home in a kind of frenzy.
He went to his trunk, where he knew there was a Bible, which his dear old mother had put in, and which had not been opened for many a long year. He opened it, looking for comfort, but all he got was deeper conviction, for every page condemned him. Then in deep distress of soul he wrote to his mother a second letter, not in the usual style about the things of the world. He told her he was now an awakened anxious sinner, and asked her to write and tell him what to do to be saved. This second letter and the first arrived at the same time.
His mother saw two letters on the breakfast table, and happened to open the first letter first. It was the old story, the world and nothing more. The next moment she opened the second letter, and there was the tidings of an awakened sinner, a deeply convicted man. Leaving the table, with her breakfast untouched, she went straight to the village post office, and sent, not a letter but a cablegram.
This reached him when he was out on the ranch surrounded by the cattle. A boy had ridden twenty-four miles to deliver it. When he opened it, he read these words, “And when they had nothing to pay, He frankly forgave them both” (Luke 7:4242And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? (Luke 7:42)).
He said, “Thank God I see it. I could not put my sins away, but God forgives them.” He found peace. The light of God and the peace of God came into his soul that day. It was indeed a divine telegram. God loves to relieve a burdened heart.
Again, a young man in a telegraph box had been anxious for weeks. He had been on Sunday to one church in the morning, to another in the afternoon, and to a third at night. He came home more wretched and miserable than he went out. Monday morning he went to the railway where his box was, and while there heard the tick, tick which told him that his office was being called. He took out his paper, and began to write the message. The message was from Captain H—, and the receiver was a servant girl in the town. Then came the message, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)). He read the telegram, and then said, “Thank God! I see it. I am saved.” He got peace on the spot.
He thought he would like to go and see who was going to get this wonderful telegram, so he took it himself. A young woman opened the door, and took the wire, which was for her. She read it, and exclaimed, “Thank God. I see it. I am saved.”
She told him, “The sender of that telegram is my master’s brother. He was here lately and preached the gospel to me. I became anxious. Yesterday afternoon (Sunday), I got so distressed that I made bald to sit down and write to the Captain, telling him what a poor wretched sinner I found myself to be, and asking him if he would not write a letter to tell me how to get saved. Instead of sending me a letter, he sent me this telegram.” It brought peace to two souls. Such is God’s way of meeting anxious souls.
Yes, my reader, “then flew one of the seraphim.” God loves to bring the distressed soul into peace. The coal touched the prophet’s lips, and what does he learn? That his iniquity is taken away, and his sin purged. Do you seek salvation? You can only get it by coming to Jesus. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, that He loved you, and died for your salvation. If you really believe in Him, you are entitled to know that you are forgiven and saved, and you may say— “I believe God, when He says, ‘Thine iniquity is taken away!’” Christ bore the judgment, and now blessing is yours. What more? Your sin is purged. That is what the believer knows. Hallelujah!
Consecrated.
One thing more. Isaiah then heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” God wanted a servant then, He wants a servant now. You have been the slave of sin, perhaps till this moment. The Lord offers you the opportunity of getting into His service from this moment. He now says, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” What do you say? I know what Isaiah said. Listen— “Here am I; send me.” He got in the Lord’s service, sweet, happy, blessed service. If you only knew the joy of being in the Lord’s service, you would be in it straight off.
Inquire of some servant of the Lord, who has been in the service of the Lord for forty or fifty years, and he will tell you— “It is the sweetest service possible. Go in for it.” Receive His blessing just now, as you read this, and when God says— “Who will go for us?” “Here am I, send me,” will be your response.
I admit that the message Isaiah had then to bear was a very poor message compared with the message I have for you, and you can carry to others. My message to you is this, God loves you. Christ has died for you. The work of redemption is accomplished. The Holy Ghost has come down to give you the knowledge that your sins are all forgiven, and to put you in the blessed place of serving Christ till you see Him face to face. Who would not be a Christian? If you never were one before, turn to the Lord just now.
W. T. P. W.