Identity of the Lost (Isa.6:1-5) by: Francis Jackson

       One of the biggest issues of man since the fall has been pride.  This trend continues today in the area of salvation due to mankind overlooking or ignoring their spiritual position.  Before we can ever start moving on the right path, we must first realize that we are on the wrong one.  The starting point for the redeemed begins when we identify ourselves as lost.  Isaiah came to this realization in his calling for service.  The first 4 verses of this passage describe the overwhelming holiness of God.  The seraphim in verse 2 are angelic creatures with six wings each.  The two wings over their face were because even though they were in the heavenly realms, they still were unworthy of gazing directly at God’s glory.  The two on their feet emphasized their lowliness and the last two they flew with since His throne is high and lifted up.  Verse 3 emphasizes the praise and worship which is due only to God.  His holiness is also seen here from the perspective of His judgment and wrath which is described by the house being filled with smoke (Ex. 19:16-20).  With Isaiah being the witness of the holiness of the Most High God, that alone rules him out as being spiritually lost.  However, the grounds of being lost are due to him being unclean.  To have unclean lips is to have an unclean heart because from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34).  Isaiah speaks of himself being lost at the core.  Not only does he speak for himself, but also those around him (v.5).  This amplifies the truth that no one within themselves can stand clean before God. There are others in bible times who’ve realized their sinful state after experiencing God’s presence (Job-42:6; Peter- Lk. 5:8).  God is holy.  Once we truly experience God as He is, we too will be able to identify our lost condition and be headed on the right path towards righteousness.

Stayed tuned for the rest of the series: Hope For the Lost (Lk. 4:16-21)
and then Suppression of the Lost (Lk. 4:22-30)
and finally Deliverance of the Lost (Lk. 19:1-10)