Woe is me

So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because 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." – Isaiah 6v5

How do you think we will respond when we see Jesus face to face? There is a song by a modern Christian group that puts the scenario this way – ‘Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still? Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?

I am not sure how all of that is going to work out any more than the song writer is, but we do get a glimpse here of how one man responded.

When Isaiah saw the high and lofty thrice holy God he said ‘Woe is me. I am undone.’ Isaiah saw his own righteousness compared to the Lord’s righteousness, and the knowledge ‘undid’ him.

No matter how we will respond when we see Jesus face to face, how do we respond before Him today. Yes, God is our Abba, our loving Father. Yes, Jesus calls us His friends. Yes we are a part of the family of God. All of that is true and wonderful and encouraging.

But let’s be sure that the wonderful familiarity does not breed contempt for His holiness. When we sin our only response and we fling ourselves once again on His mercy – ‘Woe is me!’

Woe is me indeed if not for the free and precious gift of salvation.