“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne…” (Isaiah 6:1 NKJ).
In the sixth chapter of Isaiah, we see that the prophet received three distinct visions. As a result, his whole perspective and purpose was dramatically changed:
Vision One: Isaiah saw the Lord (v.1). Life begins with a look. Looking precedes action. We look and see. Then we respond and go. Just as Isaiah saw the Lord, we, too, can look to Calvary and see Jesus as our substitute.
A lady expressed disinterest in a best-selling book. Later she met and married the author. She reread the book, enjoyed it, and told her best friend, “It means so much more to me, knowing the author.” Christianity allows us to meet the Author of Life. Isaiah saw the Lord and it gave him a new beginning, a whole reason for being.
Vision Two: Isaiah saw himself. “Woe is me,” he exclaimed, “for I am undone!” (v.5). God is so pure, so holy, so clean, and so good, that when we catch the slightest glimpse of His holiness, by contrast, we seem terribly defective. This happened to Job (Job 42:5-6). He had heard about the Lord, but when he met Him face to face, he could not stand himself.
Vision Three: Isaiah saw a needy world. “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” (v. 8a) asked the Lord. Isaiah responds by saying, “Here am I! Send me” (v. 8b).
Isaiah had three visions. He saw the Lord in His majesty, himself in his misery, and the world in its malady. Then he saw the answer: ministry.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers