Somewhere Between Revival and Civil War

Recent events, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk, have prompted cultural commentators to prophetically declare that our nation is either on the verge of spiritual awakening or civil war; maybe both. I don’t know. But I’m convinced we are living in a moment of dramatic cultural change. We cannot experience the trauma we have felt without it having a deep impact on the soul of our nation.

But I’m more concerned with how you, as an individual, are responding. My prayer is that the trauma we’ve experienced would have the same effect on us that it had on the prophet Isaiah when the most significant influencer in his nation died. In chapter 6 of Isaiah's prophecy, he explains how that time-stamped event radically altered his view of God, himself, and his world.

It all started “In the year King Uzziah died.” Although Uzziah was a king who started out doing “what was right in the sight of the Lord”, he later swelled with pride, resulting in his dying as a disgraced leper under the judgment of God. Isaiah was likely devastated by Uzziah’s fall from grace. Uzziah's death was far more than a political event—it was a personal, national, and spiritual crisis that shattered illusions of security and human reliability, forcing Isaiah to get his eyes on a more worthy King.

First, we need a new view of God.

It wasn’t until King Uzziah died that Isaiah saw God as holy, sitting on a throne, high and lifted up. Like Isaiah, until our earthly, mythical kings die, we will likely not see God as he is in all of his holiness.

Second, we need a new perspective on his sin.

When we get an accurate view of God’s holiness, we will cry with Isaiah, “Woe is me, I am lost. I am a man of unclean lips, dwelling among a people of unclean lips.” Oh, how we need God to clean up the words that too often come from our unholy lips.

Third, we need a new cleansing.

God takes the initiative to bridge the gap between his holiness and our unholiness. In Isaiah’s case, he purified his mouth with a burning coal. Painful, but necessary. If we give God access to our hearts, the words that spew from our lips would be transformed. He could then say to us, as he did to Isaiah, “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Finally, we need a new commission.

Recognizing the need for someone to step up and be a prophetic voice to his nation, Isaiah answered God’s call with, “Here I am! Send me.”

How about you? Has your response to the trauma of recent headlines given you a more holy view of God, a more accurate view of your sin, a greater appreciation of God’s cleansing, and a greater courage to live sent? If not, take time to approach his throne of grace. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)