“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?'” Isaiah 6:8
The answer to the question of every honest and earnest seeker of God concerning, “What shall I do that will truly count for eternity,” begins with the revelation of God to his or her heart. This was the case with Abraham when the Lord “appeared” to him in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and certainly before he came to the land of Canaan. Without the conviction that God had revealed Himself to him specifically, how would Abraham ever have been able to leave his home, family, and go by faith to a land that he had never seen, believing a promise which only the Almighty God could fulfill?
When Saul of Tarsus met the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, everything changed in his life because God had come to Saul and had revealed Himself to him in such a personal manner, that nothing would ever be the same. In fact, later when the Apostle Paul would write, that “…it pleased God to reveal His Son in me,” (Gal. 1:16) Paul’s existence would take on such meaning and purpose with such conviction and clarity, that he would write that God’s purpose for him was clearly that he “…might preach Christ among the Gentiles.” God called Paul first of all to Himself, in living communion with Him. Out of that communion, Paul’s mission was to preach the Gospel of Christ, Christ Himself, to the then known world, even extending to our present day. Everything changed in Paul’s life when Christ came and met him individually.
The revelation by the Father of Christ to the heart of Peter, would result in Peter declaring, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt. 16:16) Peter also was never the same after that revelation. The integral part of making Peter to become what he had to be to glorify Christ after Christ’s death and resurrection, would now be achieved in his heart. This individual so pivotal to the beginning of the church of Christ was prepared for such by the revelation of Christ to his heart.
And finally, we look at Thomas the disciple who was not with the other disciples when the Lord Jesus revealed Himself to them after the His resurrection. Thomas had a very definite need in his heart, that no other brother in Christ could meet, either by word or deed. He had to meet the Lord himself. So, about a week after Jesus came the first time, He appeared to all assembled a second time. This time Thomas was present, Jesus greeting them all. And then He spoke directly to Thomas, instructing him to, “…reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.” (John 20:27) The result of the personal revelation of Christ to the heart of Thomas is revealed by Thomas’ declaration: “My Lord and my God.” (v.28) Thomas was never the same because of that personal meeting with Christ, and the personal revelation of Christ to his heart, resulting in a conviction that would establish him in Christ for the rest of his life.
Does God reveal Himself to us today, specifically to every individual He calls? Yes, and in particular with regard to that person’s calling. When the Lord spoke to Isaiah, after he received the vision of Christ, the Lord asked a question, which actually was put forth by the entire Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Spirit. That personal question was: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for US?” (6:8) Isaiah was so convinced of the revelation of Christ, and convicted by His very words, that there was no hesitation as to what his response should be, that of total surrender to God. His response was a whole-hearted, glad surrender to Christ, revealed in his own words: “Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.'”
Dear Father, We would see Jesus, In Jesus’ name, Amen.