The Awesome God

As human beings we are constantly surrounded by examples of power and authority. Just turn on the TV for any brief moment and you will find countless examples of earthly power. Politicians and celebrities are all vying for your attention. The one thing missing in every example of earthly authority is lasting power.

Every example of earthly power comes to an end either through political exchanges or natural causes. There is no example of power on which we can ‘hang our hat’ so to speak. Then we open our bible for today’s reading from the Prophet Isaiah.

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train 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.  And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”  Then flew one of the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar.  And he touched my mouth, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven.”  And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”  And he said, “Go, and say to this people: ‘Hear and hear, but do not understand; see and see, but do not perceive.’  Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”  Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said: “Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without men, and the land is utterly desolate, and the LORD removes men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.”

Isaiah 6.1-12

When Isaiah saw God sitting on His Throne he was instantly taken by the awesomeness of God. God wasn’t just sitting on His Throne. The entire universe was circling Him with praises, and everything shook with His authority. This is the real example of power and authority.

In the midst of God’s glory, Prophet Isaiah experienced mercy. “Behold this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven.” These are the same words we hear after receiving Holy Communion. God is all powerful, but He is also all merciful.

If we can remember that simple truth of God during Great Lent, then we will have growing closer to Him. If we could experience the same glory and mercy of God that Prophet Isaiah experienced, then we would be in heaven. We can.

What Prophet Isaiah experienced is what we experience every time we attend the Divine Liturgy. We see God sitting on His Throne. We hear the angles, and actually join them, sing the praises of God. Even the incense fills the Church like it fills heaven. We receive His mercy when we receive Holy Communion.

What can be so awesome as a God Who has so much power and authority that the whole world shakes, but still takes the time to forgive us and love us? Nothing on earth can do that. Only God.