“Prepare the way of the Lord…” LK 3:4; IS 40:3

John lived his life for one purpose. Everything that he did was to fulfill one mission, and one mission alone. Prophesied by the prophet Isaiah 700 years before John was even born, scripture reveals a critical truth: God has a destiny for you and I to walk in. He prepares us for it. He prepares our parents. He prepares the time and place of our birth, and the important features which will shape us in order that we might be conformed to His will.

Although in one sense John’s mission was unique; he is the only one to baptize Jesus, and to be the voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way for His first coming. And yet, in another sense his mission is also yours, and mine. Like John, we are called to remove every hindrance that stands in the way of Christ entering into our world. Like John, we are called to be a voice crying out for people to prepare the way for the Lord to come…to our families, to our schools, our places of work, our cities, our lands. We are called to remove mountains which stand in the way, to raise up valleys, to make rough places smooth, to make crooked places straight. In a very real way, John the Baptist is not just a historical figure. He is an example for us to follow. We too should be living our lives for one purpose, and dedicate ourselves fully to walking in the destiny which God Himself has prepared for us to walk in.

Who is John?
As I studied about John’s role as a forerunner, I was shocked to discover that there has not been written about the ministry of John. How could it be that the person of whom Jesus said “among those born of women there has not risen one greater” could be so overlooked, so lightly esteemed? Perhaps it is because it is hard for us to identify with someone who ate locusts and wild honey, and who dressed in camel’s skin. Perhaps we don’t relish the idea of spending long seasons in a desert place, alone, in obscurity. Perhaps it is his message which we would find difficult. The “Repent!” message is not really that popular in 2017. Most people don’t care to be called a brood of vipers, or told that their actions have eternal implications. Perhaps we would not want to fade into the background as John did, famously stating, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Remarkably, his strange approach and sharp message did not diminish his attraction. Scripture assures us that multitudes came to him from “Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan” to be baptized, confessing their sins. Among them were common folk, working professionals (tax collectors), soldiers, and the religious rulers (Pharisees and Saducees) of the Jews. He even had audience with the King (Herod). Most importantly, among the crowds was God Himself. While it is rewarding to know that people from all walks of life may be interested in what I have to say, and even want to travel long distances to hear it, there is nothing like knowing that my Lord is there when I stand up to speak.

For that is the point after all. We are preparing the way for Him. In order to usher in the One who alone brings transformation, restoring all things, comforting brokenness, healing wounds, bringing unquenchable joy, we need to clear a path in the desert, and build up a highway for the Lord our God. Isaiah identified four categories which need to be dealt with:

1. Mountains and Hills must be leveled. One translation says flattened, and of course Jesus said that mountain cannot be tolerated too, telling his disciples that if they have faith they can say to them to “be removed and cast into the sea” (Mk 11:23). Mountains obstruct our view, and point to false belief systems, lies and “arguments” which exalt themselves against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:4). We have to identify the mountains which have been exalted in and around our lives, the lives of our friends and family, and in our societies and cultures, and them remove them. Unless we do this, there will be no highway to speed people along their way to salvation, and to their destinies.
2. Every valley must be lifted up. The Psalmist refers to the “valley of the shadow of death” (23:4) where we may actually find comfort and instruction, and to the “valley of Baca” (meaning tears, 84:6) which can be made into a spring. Every person experiences valleys in life:  through pain, loss, hardships, and tragedy. We prepare the way for the Lord to touch people in their valleys when we reach out to them compassionately and assure them that we don’t have to go through life’s valleys alone, that their seasons of tears can become a spring of life with the Lord’s help.
3. Crooked places must be made straight. I have met so many people in recent years who are tired of traveling on crooked paths. They are frustrated by wasted years, or wandering, navigating the twists and turns of a perverse generation. They are weary of dealing with deceit, conceit, manipulation, being taken advantage of, and “the swamp”. The knowledge that there even is a straight way to walk in, that there is an opportunity to choose light rather than darkness, goodness rather than corruption, is so welcome that they will come to the voice calling to them in their deserts just like they came to John so long ago.
4. Rough ways must be made smooth. Sometimes it is not life’s crises which hit us the hardest, it is the constant bumps and bruises we feel from the rough ways which affect us the most. As Christians we ride the same roads as our neighbors, but we have something that they don’t have. We have a Source of grace, and we have access to strength. Where once there was fear, we now experience an abiding peace. Our “vehicle” has the best shock absorbers known to man, and it is up to us to let the world know that they don’t have to continue to ride the roads with no padding on rusted and broken springs from days gone by.

When we do our part to be forerunners, as we walk in the power and spirit of Elijah who went before, and John the Baptist who came afterwards, we are preparing a people for God, and we are preparing God to visit His people. Taking this mantle up in our hands positions us to remove obstacles and build highways upon which God meets with us. Every generation has the obligation to pick up this mantle, to live our lives for this single purpose, to follow the example of John. If we do, the promise which was made so long ago will be ours as well:

“The glory of the Lord shall be revealed.
And all flesh shall see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” IS 40:5