[Difference Makers ls] Amazed by the Lord Sample

Not, Not, Not

Difference makers are able to see the difference between God and humanity. Isaiah understands this. He sees God and says, “Woe is me!”

In our society do we understand the difference between God and human beings? Or have we thought that we are God? We begin to play God, don’t we? We think we have no boundaries, that we can do anything and go anywhere. 

We are not God. We have our little categories that make us better or different than others. I am smarter. I have been to more places. I have more stuff. I have more money, or less money. I have more education, or less education. All of these little things separate us, but what happens when you die? As you stand before a holy God, you have none of these aspects that separate you from other people. That is a scary place, when you have built your whole life on what separates you and makes you special. But suddenly you are naked—not physically, but spiritually. It is you and God. You are completely alone and at that moment you need Jesus. 

It is Jesus who steps in front of you and a holy God. God, in His holiness, sees that you are clothed in Christ. And now you realize the difference between God and humanity. You say, like Isaiah, “Woe is me. I'm a man of unclean lips, and I live among people of unclean lips.” 

Notice the order. Isaiah first realizes his personal uncleanliness, then he realizes the corporate or societal uncleanliness. What have we done, in order to protect our own sin? We have reversed it. We say, “Look at our society, how bad everyone is!” But we ought to be saying, "Look at my own heart, how bad it is!” There may be sexual perversion out there, but is there sexual perversion in me, in my thoughts? There may be greed out there, but is there greed in me? When I see that, I say, “Lord, have mercy upon our people, because we, as a human race, are streaked and stained with sin.” God is holy, holy, holy. I am not, not, not. And I need forgiveness—forgiveness in Jesus Christ. 

Am I relying on what makes me different from others? Am I blaming others to take attention away from my own sins? Or am I relying on Christ’s righteousness?