Heb. 12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
Bitterness is so destructive and defiling, and it is so contrary to the grace of God. Every time we walk in bitterness we so come short of the grace of God, which we have all needed many times in our moments of carnality. We can’t have it both ways. We can’t freely receive what we aren’t willing to freely give. The grace we extend to others is a good and accurate measure of how much grace we believe has been extended to us. I find in my own life that the biggest struggle with bitterness comes when I believe that someone’s activity has threatened my own well being, comfort, and happiness. When the price you have to pay, as a result of someone else’s behavior, is very personal, then bitterness springs up.
Isaiah 6 speaks of Isaiah’s experience encountering Christ in the Throne Room Realm, and all that He saw there. The story begins with the Holy Spirit telling us this encounter occurred in the year King Uzziah died. Uzziah became king when he was 16 years old, and ruled for 52 years. Uzziah was one of Israel’s greatest kings; maybe the greatest after David, and for the first 40 years he ruled as an amazingly righteous king, but sadly spent the last 12 years of his life as a leper because pride led him into unrepentant rebellion. As a result of the final years, Israel also fell into great sin and rebellion. With all of this going on around him, it would have been easy for Isaiah to be confused and bitter toward fallen humanity, and especially toward his fallen hero Uzziah. It’s important, in that context, to notice the first thing he saw in his encounter with God. He saw the Healer Christ (the robe that filled the temple was a revelation and realization of Matthew 14:36) sitting on a throne, lofty, and exalted. So? Well, you see, what Jesus was showing Isaiah was that even though he was hurt and disappointed, and it looked like disaster all around him, there was One who was still sitting on the Throne and that He alone is in control of destinies, and that He was Healer, and could heal hearts and the poison deposited into any situation or life, as a result of human failure, or even demonic activity. Jesus rules and runs our lives, not Demons or Dilberts:) and whatever damage Devils or Dilberts cause, He can and will heal. They can’t cost us our destiny. Christ is on the throne, not them. Any set back they cause come under His rule and His healing touch, and are therefore woven into His perfect plan for us. Our God of grace RULES!!