October 2010

 

Looking Beyond Our Present Circumstances
Wade E Taylor

 

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim: each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.”  Isaiah 6:1-2 NKJV

 

Isaiah had become so dependent on the throne of Uzziah for comfort and support that he was unable to see the eternal heavenly King, seated upon His Throne.

 

So also concerning us, if our dependence is on the economic system of our day, we also will be unaware of the divine activity that is presently seeking to bring us into a higher realm of Theocratic Kingdom function and provision.

 

Only after Isaiah experienced the loss of his dependence on King Uzziah could he look beyond the empty, earthly throne and relate to the occupied, heavenly Throne.  Now, he could clearly see the winged Seraphim who were waiting for orders to act in his behalf.

 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit (those who have come to an utter end of self), for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”  Matthew 5:3

 

Many are feeling a measure of insecurity concerning the future, and there is valid cause for this.  From an earthly perspective, the future does not look good.  But there is an answer, as this is the time for us to look up and view things from a heavenly perspective.

 

“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.”  Revelation 4:1

 

“Come up… and I will show you.”  There is a way through all that we face in our present circumstances.  But we must turn aside, become quiet, and “look up.”

 

The earthly Uzziah’s have failed to provide all that they promised and as a result, many see only despair, as darkness is covering the earth as never before.  However, as Isaiah discovered, we must begin to “look up.”  When we seek the heavenly, we will find a word of hope through which the higher purpose of the Lord will begin to get brighter (the Millennial Kingdom being established).

 

At this present time, many are being spiritually stirred and are seeking a fresh touch of the Lord’s presence.  This is an indication that the time has come for the restoration of His Shekinah (glory).

 

A verse in Isaiah sets forth a clear picture of the Lord’s intention for us.

 

“Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you.”  Isaiah 60:1-2

 

Within each of us, who are seeking to go further in our desire for an intimate relationship with Jesus, is an awareness of the present work of preparation that is taking place.  His ascension glory is to abide within us, and then be reflected through us - “His glory will be seen upon you.”

 

“I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.”  Revelation 3:18 NASU

 

When Isaiah looked up, he saw the throne of God in action and noticed that the Seraphim were waiting for a word in his behalf.  “Seraphim” can be translated “burning ones.”  This speaks of the “glory” reaching down into our spiritual life experience, to bring us into a higher level of purity and lift us up into a cooperative relationship with Jesus in His end-time purposes.

 

The six wings of the Seraphim (three sets of two wings each), expresses the Lord manifestly acting in our behalf - His burning presence accomplishing His purpose in us (The Holy Spirit and Fire).

 

“With two he covered his face.”  No flesh can abide the intensity of His Shekinah presence.  Thus, we behold as in a glass (shield) the glory of the Lord (II Cor 3:18).  Also, our mind is to be covered, that the “mind of Christ” might function through us.  This represents our yielding to His headship.

 

“With two he covered his feet.”  This speaks of our submission to His rule in our lives.  We are to “walk in the Spirit,” dying to our ways.

 

“And with two he did fly.”  This speaks of our coming up into the realm of the spirit – into an active, cooperative relationship with the functioning of His eternal Spirit and Kingdom.  Notice the wings in Isaiah 40:31.  These provide us with the ability to ascend into His presence.

 

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

 

As we look away from earthly thrones (our dependence on and satisfaction with the present day economic system) and come up into a place of trust and communion with Jesus in His Throne (Millennial Kingdom of God), we will merge with these “winged Seraphim” and together with them, worship the Lord.

 

 “And one cried to another, and said, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.  And the post of the door moved at the voice of him that cried….”  Isaiah 6:3-4

 

As we worship the Lord, the door (portal) that leads into the heavenly realm will open to us.  Then, we will be lifted up into His Throne to be seated together with Him.

 

“And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:6

 

One of the things that should encourage us is when we sense the presence, blessing, and provision of the Lord, not so much in the big things that sometimes happen, but rather, in the little things of our everyday life experience.

 

Life seldom consists of many big things.  Rather, our spiritual life experience is made up of ever so many small situations and things.  Thus, it is easy for us to look for natural means to accomplish all that needs to be done.  We are to look up to the Lord, even in the small things, acknowledging our dependence on Him.  When we do this, the fact of His approbation (divine favor) resting upon us will become evident.

 

Hattie Hammond once shared a dream.  She was escorted to a grand piano with thousands present, and a very complicated score of music was set before her.  She asked the Lord for His help and began to play.  The result was outstanding and she was asked to play again.  This time a very simple piece of music was placed before her and she said, “I know this” and began to play.  The discord was so bad that it woke her up.  The Lord then said, “You seek Me for the difficult things, but you are to seek Me also for the easy things that you face daily.”

 

The Lord, seated in His Throne, is waiting for us to look away from our natural sources of help and look up to Him for His provision.

 

He is a present and available God.  How can we help but worship, love, and serve Him?