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In the presence of the Lord, things become crystal clear. There are several passages in Scripture that describe visions that were given to both prophets and apostles concerning the Almighty sitting on his throne. There is remarkable consistency in these passages in that the glory of God’s presence is overwhelming; those who caught a glimpse of God’s glory have trouble even describing what they saw.

In Isaiah 6, we find one of these passages. Isaiah gives us a specific year that he was given his vision. It was the year that King Uzziah died. Isaiah tells us the location of the vision was the temple; it must have been in the Holy of Holies. There, the images of angelic beings call out together, declaring the Holiness of God: “the whole earth is full of his glory.” The foundations of the temple shake, seraphim flew past the prophet, and the angelic being takes a hot coal from the furnace, touches Isaiah’s mouth and tells the prophet that his guilt is taken away and his sin atoned for. Try to imagine that encounter!

I have never noticed this before. but when God speaks in verse 8, it seems that he is talking to the those who surround his throne when he asks: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah overheard the question, but the profound experience of having his guilt taken away and his sin atoned for stirs the prophet to step forward in humility, gratitude, and I believe eagerness when he answers: “Here I am! Send me.”

Reading the first 11 verses of Luke 5, it strikes me that in many ways, Simon Peter had a similar experience to that of Isaiah. The setting was not the temple, but in a boat that is sinking because of the quantity of fish that Jesus had miraculously provided for Peter and the other fishermen. In the presence of the one who was and is and is to come, Peter said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Jesus responded, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

In the presence of Jesus, Peter was aware of his sinfulness. But from this moment forward, Peter followed Jesus. When Ezekiel was in the presence of God, he also fell to his face (Ezekiel 1:28), and the apostle John described his vision of the throne of God and the King who sat upon the throne. His description included 24 elders falling down before the throne and saying: “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

So, what is our response as we consider the holiness of God and what Jesus has done for us, on the cross and by his resurrection? It seems there are only two responses. First, we worship and declare what Jesus taught us in the model prayer: “Holy is your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” And second, we accept our commission that we are to go and make disciples of all nations. We praise God and we demonstrate our love for him by loving others enough to share the good news of Jesus!

Father, Holy is your name! We come to you with hearts full of thanksgiving for who you are and what you have done for us and for all of creation! Today, we call out in obedience and declare that we are here, and we are willing to go wherever you send us.  In Jesus’s name, amen.