Pastor’s Corner: “Make a Way, for the King is Coming!”
Isaiah 40:3 (NLT) – 3 Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! Isaiah 57:14 (NLT) God Forgives the Repentant – 14 God says, “Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.” John 1:23 (NLT) – 23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”
John the Baptist said he was the servant sent before the King to prepare the pathway. What did he mean? In ancient times, when a king was going to visit a city, he would send before him someone to herald his coming, someone to announce that he would be arriving soon. The herald would go around the city, and go before the leaders of the city, telling them all, “The king is coming. Torrential downpours often caused roads to cave in and mountains to slide down onto the highways, blocking traffic. The servant’s job was to make sure the highways were repaired, with all the holes filled in, so the way was fit for the king! This herald also served as a city inspector. He would go around the city and make a list of things that needed to be fixed. He would tell them, “Clean up your city. Sweep your streets. Get rid of all the garbage lying around. Round up any criminals to make the city safe. Fix the roads; make them smooth and straight. Make sure the town is gleaming. Make sure the city is fit for a king to ride through!
This custom was familiar to the people of John’s day. So when John cried out, “Prepare a straight pathway for the Lord’s coming,” the meaning was unmistakable. Their lives were a mess of rubble that needed attention. John told them the King was coming, and it was time to pick up a shovel and get to work. He will be here any day. So clean up your lives. Repentance is taking up a shovel and showing God you mean business. It’s being sorry enough to make restitution where possible. In the end, you can’t fix yourself or make yourself holy enough. Instead, we need to yield control of our lives and allow God to overshadow us and conform us to his will. But remember Isaiah’s description of what the return of the Lord will be like for those who have put their trust in him. Isaiah 40:10-11 – “But, mighty though he is, there is nothing ruthless in his power. Towards his people it is a power working by love: the care that tends, the gentleness that makes provision for the weak…”
How do we make a way for the King? Let’s create a buzz about the coming King – Let’s show kindness to others as gifts to Jesus –– Let’s listen as John says “Repent, the kingdom is near” by straightening out our priorities and the intentions of our hearts. I love the words sent to me yesterday by our sister Vianney Chavez: “The world only sees the virus and a crisis. The church sees a sign of the coming of Christ and a great revival! The church did not stop, it multiplied and now in every house there is a church stronger and firmer than ever!” The King is Coming – Make a way!
Do not forget to join us in prayer from your home or work every day at 10:00 am!
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton and Family