Woe to me! (part 1)

When you leave church, or when you ponder God, what is your reaction?

I firmly believe that the One, True God, who created the universe from nothing, is more powerful, more loving, more just, more glorious than we could ever imagine.

Then why is it that the majority of the time when we think of God, or when we leave church (hopefully we thought of God at church at least), it really avails to nothing more than what we are going to have for lunch.

Isaiah the ancient prophet said it this way when he saw a vision of God, "Woe to me, I am ruined!" The word "woe" was used more in older English times, dictionary.com defines it as: an exclamation of grief, distress, or lamentation.

When was the last time you thought about God in extreme grief or distress? Have you ever had those emotions when you thought of God? If not, you are not seeing the God of the Bible. Even his angels strike fear. Angels are not these fat little cheribum that float on clouds around Hallmark stores. Every time an angel is encountered in Scripture they have to begin with "Fear not". Even the ones who came to preach the good news the first time said, "Fear not, we bring good tidings of great joy!"

The problem is most likely two fold. Preachers don't preach, and the hearers don't actually ponder (think) on God.

So if you have never had the thought "WOE TO ME!" when pondering God, you need to check yourself and check your church. Because something isn't right.

Isaiah 6: 1-5
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for 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!”