Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8

            Whether it’s extreme talent, extreme beauty, extreme success or popularity, it shouldn’t surprise us that our culture’s definition of an extraordinary life is a bit different than the Bible’s.

            There are so many heroes of the faith who did amazing things, left amazing legacies, won amazing battles, but I believe those who lived the most amazing lives were not pursuing “amazing”. They were normal people who had made themselves available to the One, True, and Amazing God.

            One such example is Isaiah. He served the Lord diligently, boldly, and faithfully as a prophet to Israel in a time of rebellion and national crisis. Israel was divided, and both the northern and the southern kingdoms were weak and vulnerable. If it were me, I would have quietly packed up and left for an amazing life on the Italian Riviera. Instead, Isaiah heeded God’s call to speak up for the Lord and invite Israel to return to him.

            But it didn’t begin with personal ambition. It began with a vision. Isaiah saw the Lord, sitting on his throne, completely holy, powerful, and worthy of all worship an honor. Isaiah’s reaction? He says, “It is all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” (6:5)

            In the presence of the Holy God, Isaiah has nothing to say for himself, except that he is unworthy. He didn’t advocate for himself, or lay out his talents. How could he? No amount of talent, aptitude, or beauty can withstand God’s perfection. It all vanishes. God is extraordinary, and when we see ourselves honestly before the Lord, we understand, like Isaiah did, that we are doomed.  

            Thankfully, God did not leave Isaiah in his sinfulness. Next, “one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, ‘See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven’”(6:6-7).

            In order to live an extraordinary life, Isaiah had to first see his own radical unworthiness before a holy God. Then, he had to be radically forgiven by our merciful God. Then he had to be radically available to God’s call. As soon as God asked “Who?", Isaiah says, “Here I am. Send me!” No hesitation.

            Notice Isaiah said, “Send me” instead of “I’ll go!” This subtle difference reflects two different attitudes. Isaiah was communicating his availability to God, but also submission to God’s call at God’s time. He knew he had to wait for the Lord to send him, not rush ahead.

            God’s response? “Go!”  God didn’t need to use Isaiah. He could have done it himself, sent angels, or pursued a variety of other creative methods. But as one commentator aptly put it,  “God wants to reach the world through willing people” (D. Guzik, Enduring Word). He uses available people to do amazing things.  

            Through Isaiah we learn the truly extraordinary life comes through the Lord alone. When we see God accurately, we see our unworthiness to participate in his plans. And when we’re forgiven, how can we not respond with willingness and availability to do whatever he calls us to?

            While it may appearance to be mundane, normal, even small, anything done in partnership with God, for his glory, is extraordinary.  We can pursue availability to him, knowing he will turn it into something amazing.