A lament within the church for as long as I’ve been a believer has been that far too many of us in the family aren’t really in the game. That though we praise God for the benefits of new life, some of us seem to have taken a pass on dying to the old life. Rather than taking up our cross for the kingdom, we seem fixated on putting down our roots in this world.

This isn’t something new to our generation. Jesus recognized this propensity when He taught about laying up treasures in heaven rather amassing wealth on earth (Mt. 6:19-21). Or, when He pointed out that those who believe that the Master is coming soon will be marked as those who are busy with the Master’s work now (Lk. 19:12-26). Getting in the game has always been a thing, it seems, for the people of God.

So, what’s the secret sauce for those who heed the call? Based on my reading this morning in Isaiah 6, maybe, at least in part, it takes a little bit of ruin to respond to a little bit of recruiting.

Isaiah sees the LORD. The God who made all things is beheld by the prophet and He is seated on a throne, exalted above all things. And yet, this high and lofty God remains in touch with this humbled and lowly world, even as His robe fills the temple.

Isaiah hears the angels. They call to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies; His glory fills the whole earth.” And at the sound of their declaration, the ground shakes as the glory fills the room.

Isaiah then reacts to what He has seen and heard.

“Woe is me for I am ruined
because I am a man of unclean lips
and live among a people of unclean lips,
and because my eyes have seen the King,
the LORD of Armies.”

(Isaiah 6:5 CSB)

Ruined. Undone is how I learned it in my early days. To feel as though he should be cut off as he processes the chasm between God’s goodness and glory and his own shamefulness and sin. Coming face to face with the King results in falling on his own face with conviction and confession of sin. Isaiah’s ruined.

But that’s not the end of the story. Isaiah’s then recruited.

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said:
Now that this has touched your lips,
your iniquity is removed
and your sin is atoned for.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking:
Who will I send?
Who will go for us?

I said:
Here I am. Send me.

(Isaiah 6:6-8 CSB)

Isaiah goes from “I am undone” to “Send me.” From “I’m as good as dead” (MSG), to I want to live for You. How come?

He has an encounter with the altar. Confession and conviction result in cleansing as he appropriates personally the coals of atoning sacrifice. His iniquity is removed. His ruined-ness is restored. And now he’s ready to hear and heed the call to get in the game.

And it makes me wonder if we struggle to really follow Jesus because we so rarely come to terms with our ongoing failure. If we don’t follow as we should because we’re so infrequently touched by the cleansing embers of Jesus’ sacrifice. That thinking ourselves better than we are we miss out on seeing God for how great He truly is and thus fail to know afresh the depths of His forgiveness and the abundance of His grace.

As I chew on it, I wonder if maybe a little more ruin would result in a little more recruitment.

Something to noodle on, I think.

By His grace. For His glory.