Isaiah 6:1-3 (Seated)

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy , holy is the Lord Almighty;
    the whole earth is full of his glory.” 

My world has been turned upside down ever since my mom died.  It was three years ago today.

There is something about mothers, the way they hold a family together, the way they listen, the way they bandages scraped knees, the way they give the tightest hugs that seem to sink into your skin all the way to your heart.  Moms are the best (as are dads, but we'll get to them another day).  Today, moms are the best, and today I really miss mine.

I've missed her all month.  People who haven't yet lost someone may think it strange, but as soon as my calendar read April 1, I started thinking about her, this is the month that Mom died.  So, it's been a month full of memories, laughter, and tears.  It seems like I should be further along by now, but then when I talk to other people who have lost someone, like my 82-year-old step grandma, even she still misses her mama.  There is just something about moms.

When my mom died, my world slowly began to "fall apart" and falling apart is not always a bad thing, because if something unhealthy is being held together, it's best that it does fall apart.  But being someone who doesn't like change, a little change in my life feels like "falling apart" and a lot of change (like what has happened over the past three years) feels like a death sentence at times.  I used to turn to my mom in seasons like this, but she's not here.

That's when the anxiety begins to build.  I don't have control, I don't know what's happening next, I don't know if I can take much more right now, and I don't even have Mom here to talk through all of this with me.  Do you see what is missing in that list?  How about God?  How about this God who loves me, who cares for me individually and for the world as a whole, who is in control of all things, and who has all the power and knowledge of everything, everywhere.  Why do I not turn to Him faster?

I think the Lord must have known I was forgetting this because three times in the last month, I have heard someone speak about the passage above.  This is a very powerful piece of scripture, and I wish I had more time today to study it with you, but here is what I have been reminded this week:

"I saw the Lord, high and exalted,...and the train of his robe filled the temple."  These words give us an image of how powerful our God is!  God in human form is Jesus, and so here we see Jesus on this throne!  He is seated high, above everything.  He sees it all.  As a king might look down over his kingdom, so our God looks down over the entire world.  And He is also exalted -- He's in the place of honor.  I forget that sometimes when I remember that Jesus is my friend while I forget that He is the King of Kings.  He is above all the kings, leaders, and powerful people who have ever lived.  In fact, he is so above them that the train of his robe (a distinguished symbol of honor and nobility) fills the entire temple!

Here He is with all this power.  He is in charge of the world; He sees all that is happening.  And with all this responsibility, how is he on His throne?  He is seated.  He's not pacing back and forth, wringing His hands about how to take care of this matter or that one.  There are no surprises to Him -- He's not thinking, Well, I didn't see that one coming...what now?  No, He is seated.  He's not worried, because He is in control even as He sits.

Well, doesn't God see what I'm going through, and does He not care?  How can He sit while He sees what is happening all over the world?   He is seated, even at this moment, because He knows how it all ends.  I cannot possibly claim to know all that Jesus thinks, but I do know from what I've read in Scripture that His heart does break for us and over us.  He loves us so much, and sickness, disease, divorce, and death are all an invasion into how God created it to be.  But He knows how it all ends...

He is in control of it all, and He is seated.  So today, I can trust that God is working His plans through me and in me as well.  Let us remain faithful, dear friends.  There is pain on this side of Heaven, but it will not last forever.  We have a great and glorious hope -- Christ is returning to crush satan and conquer death!  And if we know Him, we will reign with Him one day soon!

...And I don't have to worry about my mom, because she is having a GREAT day today!

1. Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! 
 Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! 
 Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! 
 Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia! 

2. Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia! 
 Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! 
 Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! 
 Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia! 

3. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! 
 Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! 
 Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! 
 Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia! 

(Back to 1 Corinthians on Monday...)