PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD
Anita Clark – Pastor – Carbondale, KS
“Prepare the way of the Lord, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3
This verse is a prophecy of John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Christ. In John 1:22-23, John answered those who inquired who he was, by saying, “I am the voice crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias (Isaiah).” This is exactly what John was called to do. He did exactly that. The word, “prepare” used in Isaiah in the Hebrew means “to clear the way or remove the obstructions and make smooth and straight,”
How do we follow this example of clearing the way of the Lord Jesus and His coming? When we prepare for guests that are coming to visit for a meal or lodging, there’s a lot of planning and preparation that has to take place. Making ready the house, planning the meals, supplying everything that the guests may need. How much more should we be preparing for our Beloved Lord and His soon return.
Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you..I will come again and receive you unto myself.” The place where Christ went to prepare everything for us is, when He went to die on the cross. Some think Jesus is up there building mansions for us, and that is what He’s speaking about, but every provisions for our salvation, and bringing many sons to glory was provided for when He died the death there on the cross. Everything that we will ever need has been “prepared” for us by Christ through His death. Every trial, every victory, we may have, He already fought that battle and won. LAY HOLD OF THIS PROVISION BY FAITH!
Someone may say, “I don’t have enough faith! Romans 10:17 states, “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” If you are not regularly hearing the Word of God, you lack faith in your tests and trials of life. Read the Word, and attend the meeting where you can hear the Word expounded, where you will learn of the promises of God. You will be prepared by the Word of God. Philippians 4:19 says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.” Letting Him give His preparation to us, brings victory everyday through everything.
Noah is an example of “preparation.” Hebrews 11:7, “By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark, to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” This took 120 years to complete the ark until the flood came. Note this was all “by faith.” He believed what God said. He did not reason that it never had rained, that he lived inland, and how could he get all those animals to come and get in. His faith was in the God that had prepared the plan and knew the end from the beginning, and knew that the ark would float. What a miracle!
It is the same today. Matthew 24:36-39 says speaking of the coming of the Lord Jesus, “But of the day nor hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark. And knew not until the flood came and took them all away, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Son of Man is the name given to Jesus Christ in the book of Daniel 7:13-14 “...The Son of man came with the clouds of heaven...And there was given Him dominion, and glory and a kingdom.”
As Noah obeyed God and prepared the Ark, Jesus Christ obeyed God, even to the death of the cross to make provision (to prepare) for all who believe to enter into the safety of the Ark of Love, to gain eternal life by believing in Christ as their Savior.
II Chronicles 35:4, God told Israel to “Prepare yourselves.” Amos 4:12, “Prepare to meet your God.” How can we prepare the way of the Lord’s soon coming? The signs of the times show there is coming a change soon. First, yield to God ourselves, than make sure that our family is giving Jesus first place in their lives. Be a Godly example to our children showing them love and compassion. Telling others that Christ is coming and loving Jesus vehemently, which means passionately, ardently, intensely, and earnestly.
