Despite the Changing Seasons

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1-4 ESV)

Two things we can gather from this text.

First: God is immovable. He is permanent. Despite the changing of times and seasons of the nations of the earth, God is still seated on his throne. He is not moved by our highs and lows. He retains His kingship and Lordship over all creation even when world history is shifting.

Second: God’s presence is so great that it filled the heavens to the point of shaking. Notice how this great display of the majesty of God stood in stark contrast to what was going on down here on earth. King Uzziah just died. He was a proud and unfaithful king. He usurped the duties of priests and offered in the altar of God. As punishment, God struck him with leprosy that he died an outcast. (2 Chron. 26: 16-21).

While the Jewish people were struck with a sharp reminder of the consequences of sin and disobedience, God was seen high and lifted up on His throne. While the specter of guilt hovered over the grieving nation, a vision of God’s majesty reminded them that God has not totally forgotten them. Hundreds of years after Isaiah’s vision, Jesus was born in a manger. God’s glory didn’t remain distant. It came near us in the form of Jesus.

As we begin the year 2012, let us be reminded that no matter what happens to us in the next 365 days, we can always rely on the permanence of God. He is the one constant person we can always go back to when we lose our way. And if we ever fall into sin, let us be reminded that Jesus came to take us out of darkness. Let us cling to His grace and entreat Him for deliverance.