Fresh Faith for Advent

I’m reading through Isaiah this Advent with Tony Reinke and others (join us if you want!). The other morning, I was moved when I read Isaiah’s words from Isaiah 6. I could relate to his story, on a much smaller scale.

At 15, my cry was similar to Isaiah’s: “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!” (6:5)

Like Isaiah, I eagerly responded to His call on my life. “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!”

I was all in.

And then, like Isaiah, reality set in. God gave Isaiah the daunting, lonely role of a prophet. One who would proclaim the wonderful news of a Savior coming, but would also correct, chastise, and warn. In verse 11, it seems to me that he realized the scope of his call, and the deep difficulty of it. Did he know that it would change his relationships in a major way? Did he have an idea of the suffering he’d endure along the way? I’m led to believe so, because he asked, “How long, O Lord?” (v11).

God’s call on my life meant immediate suffering. Loss of relationships and persecution within the four walls I lived–and great loneliness. The Holy Spirit brought conviction in ways that definitely made me an odd-ball if people learned of them. Certainly, within my family, I was. Telling people of the coming King isn’t always popular when hearts are hard and the things of the world dazzle the eyes, dulling our senses.

I never questioned “why,” but I did ask, “How long?”

The Lord responded to Isaiah’s question of how long with, “Until…” Until hearts were hardened, eyes were blind, and great suffering and calamity occurred (vv11-13). Isaiah would see it all.

God did not call him to walk an easy path. But He did call Isaiah to love Him and his neighbors with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength. The end of the “until” was up to the Lord.

I imagine that throughout his ministry, Isaiah experienced what Paul speaks of in Romans 8–inward groaning as he endured suffering that prepared him for glory. Loving people that are hard to love is…hard.

Loving God with every ounce of our being is how we endure in what He’s called us to do, and how we love who He’s called us to love. No other impetus will last, we’ll quit if His love doesn’t fuel us. Endurance actually means that we have to repeatedly suffer, and not give up. The only way to stay the course is to cling to the One who will keep us enduring.

Isaiah spoke words of life and judgment, and he endured ostracization because of it. But he faithfully endured his peculiar call because of his love for God. As he prophesied about a coming King, he, too, looked to that future day when He would come, with hope. His love for God and hope for future glory kept him going.

Isaiah reminded me this morning of the fresh faith I experienced at 15. In some ways, I was naïve to what the future would hold. Maybe Isaiah was, too. But, like Isaiah, I really meant what I said to Him when I trusted Him for salvation. My life will never be recorded like Isaiah’s, but I do believe the Lord intends for it to be every bit as significant in His redemptive story as Isaiah’s.

Your faith and your story is, too.  May this Advent season be one that rekindles fresh faith and moves us to fierce and fiery love for the coming King Jesus.