December Beacon

“A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”   Matthew 3:3

God’s people were in exile in Babylon.  They needed comfort from their Creator.  The words come in Isaiah for about 15 chapters, beginning in Isaiah 40.  Written about 150 years before Cyrus, prophetic words promised the exiles from Judah that they would return to Jerusalem.

The exiles were to be comforted because their time of servitude had ended.  (Is. 40:1-2)  “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.”

The second prophetic voice called for building a highway so that all may see the coming of the Lord.  (Is. 40:3)  “A voice of one calling:  ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.’”

The voice heard in the wilderness called the people there to ready themselves for the coming of the Lord.  If a magnificent ruler was coming from a distant land, the people who lived in the area of his intended visit would do everything possible to prepare the road for his arrival.  Prepare means ‘clear away the obstacles.’

Jump ahead some 500 years to a time when God’s people were again oppressed.  Roman rule dominated when John the Baptist came preaching in the desert of Judea.  His message included the words, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”  (A magnificent ruler was coming from a distant land.)

John the Baptist is described as, “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

Did that happen in Isaiah’s day?  And did people respond to the message as they should have when they heard it from John the Baptist?  What about today?

Messiah is coming again.  Jesus, the King of the Universe, is coming for His people some day.  Will they be ready for him.  Are they ‘preparing the way?’

One commentator suggested that ‘making straight paths for him’ involves the hearts of people being spiritually prepared.

Century Avenue is under construction just south of I-94.  Over half of the road has been widened and is finished.  It is smooth and nice to drive on.  The final section of road is not done.  It is a short stretch, but it will require a great deal of work to get completed.  I think it is going to take some time to get that road paved and cleared off!

Do you know of any roads that need clearing?  Are there people who need you to help them remove obstacles so they can clearly see and learn about the coming King!  Maybe the roadwork needs to be done in your own heart this season.  Throughout history it sounds like there has always been a need to ‘prepare the way.’

Pastor Lerud