Our readings this week are Isaiah 6.1–8 and John 3.1–17.

Our God inverts expectations.  That's the takeaway from the end of what I'm about to write.  In the spirit of the sentiment, I thought I'd start with the conclusion!

With that out of the way, let's jump back to the beginning - starting with Isaiah.  The core assumption running through Isaiah's mind in the midst of this vision is that he's not good enough.  By which I don't mean he isn't able to achieve the things that God wants him to because of any lack of ability, or capacity - but because he is literally not holy enough.  He finds himself in the presence of the holiest of holies, and his first thought is that his sinfulness, his failure to live out a holy life, can lead to nothing but destruction for himself, and those around him.  To be fair on Isaiah, the evidence of his vision seems to bear that out - even the angels in this version of Heaven seem to have to hide themselves away in the presence of God...

And it is precisely one of those angels that in that moment of panic approaches and touches a burning coal to Isaiah's lips - and reassures him that his fears are insufficient to divide him from God's healing, holy presence and purpose.  Isaiah, despite his failings - which his whole life have been stacking up to make him think God could never have anything to do with him except judgement and destruction -  discovers that the God of love actually wants to heal him, restore him, and use him.  That welcome, in turn, becomes a desire to bring others into that same renewing of relationship - as his fear of drawing near is transformed into a desire to go out and share the good news - 'Here I am (healed and restored) - send me (to those who need to find the same!)'.

The sinful human being, good enough in their eyes only for destruction, discovers they are redeemed, and themselves an agent of that same divine grace.  Did I mention God inverts expectations?

Looking at John's gospel we find the same pattern again and again in just a few short verses, in the opening words of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus we find the idea that we can achieve inner holiness, and transformation of our world for the better, in our own strength and ability turned on its head.  If we are to become the people we are created to be, and to form a world in the image of God's intention, it can only happen if and when we submit to the guidance of the Spirit of God.  To embrace that, the conversation goes on, we also have to surrender any arrogance we carry about being able to understand all things, and confine God's work to human wisdom or planning - we have to be able to accept a world, Jesus goes on, in which death is not the end of us - because behind it, underneath it, through it, is a God not of destruction and punishment, but of love and healing.   A God who doesn't want to condemn the world, but to save it!

If we think we are not good enough; God tells us that he's healed us.

If we think we have no purpose or value; God tells he loves us, and sends us.

If we think the world is ripe only for destruction; God tells us his plan is to reconcile it to himself and restore it.

If we think violence, death, and destruction have the final word; God tells us of resurrection and life eternal.

Whichever we turn, if we think condemnation; God tells us salvation.

Let's own these realities, let's become people not of fear, but of hope; not of sorrow, but of joy.  And maybe if we can live out of that way of being we might be able to start inverting some of the expectations around us as well.