The book of Isaiah is one of my favorite books in the entire Bible. Isaiah 40:31 has always inspired hope for me.
"For those that hope in the Lord, they shall soar on wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not be faint."
But as I've made my way through the Bible from cover to cover this past year, I recently came back across the beginning of Isaiah, in Chapter 6, where Isaiah the Prophet receives his calling. Take a look:
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said:
"Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away,
And your sin purged."
8 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."
This time when I read this passage, I asked myself, where did Isaiah get the boldness to answer the Lord, 'Here am I. Send me?'
But the answer is right before that. The angel touches his lips with the burning coal and states that his iniquity or sin, is purged. Isaiah is bold because the Lord considers him blameless; the angel told him so. So as a blameless man, now pure in the eyes of God, he tells God that he will go gladly and be the Lord's messenger.
So how does this help us?
It turns out, as God's Prophet, Isaiah goes on just one chapter later and promises something:
13 Then he said, "Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."
Now if we know who Immanuel was - 'God with us' as it is commonly translated... we know the story of Jesus Christ. The identity of Christ, and WHAT He did for ALL who call on His name, has been made known to many.
Therefore, if we believers are also purged of our iniquity, shouldn't we all be so bold as Isaiah was back in his day? It is the opinion of this author, that if one truly believes, than the conviction from the Holy Spirit within us should feel as real in our hearts, as the burning coal to Isaiah's lips.
In other words, I think we believers are without excuse when it comes to being messengers of Christ's message, because Christ dying on the cross, and His resurrection, was like the burning coal that burned away all iniquity!
In the first chapter of Romans, Paul tells us that we are 'without excuse' for various reasons. Observe:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
In conclusion, I simply ask my readers this?
What has held you back from telling others about what you believe? Do you really believe in Jesus Christ, dying for your sins, conquering death, and returning to claim His children over the powers of Satan?
Because according to Paul, and the many Christian brothers and sisters who gave their lives for faith in Yeshua, if you have been so blessed with God's Truth, shouldn't we all have the confidence to boldly reply,
'Here are we, Lord. Send Us!'