Isaiah 40:3-5 reads the voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. People should prepare for the coming of the Lord. Isaiah began by simply hearing a voice- the voice of one crying in the wilderness. The Lords messenger cried out for the barren places. He is coming as a Triumphant King who has the road prepared before Him so He can travel in glory. Every obstacle must be removed. Whatever was wrong in the road had to be corrected. This talks about the preparation that must be done in our hearts. It will cost us something to be ready for God. Building a road also takes an expert engineer. His plans must be followed. When the way is prepared the glory of the Lord shall be revealed without regard to nationality. It says all flesh shall see it together. The mouth of the Lord has spoken it so it is assured as certain to happen. John the Baptist ministry was to be the one crying in the wilderness and thus to prepare the way of the Lord. Any great work of God begins with great preparation. What is He preparing in you right now? Meeting with someone sometimes indicates a serious nature of the issues. The end times is a serious issue and we need to be meeting with God face to face. This scripture promises the exiles(those driven away because of sin) from Judah will return to Jerusalem where God would meet with them in the form of a suffering servant. The voice is heard in the wilderness calling the people there to ready themselves for the coming of the Lord. A wonderful ruler from a distant land is coming. The people would do everything possible to prepare the road for His arrival. These changes can only be acccomplished through Divine action. His coming is very near. Matthew 21:1-11 talks about the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem(new Jerusalem next time). The donkey symbolizes that He is our burden bearer. Revelation 21:4 says He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and there will no longer be any death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things have passed away. It was a royal procession that Jesus was publically presenting Himself to Israel as the nations Messiah and King. Great multitudes of people took their palm branches, a symbol of victory, and went out to meet Him crying out Hosanna meaning save us. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. They looked unto Jesus to be the deliverer, the conqueror, the one who was to come. We need to be salt and light to the world porclaiming Him and making disciple of all men. Amen.
Preparing and being better prepared in this present hour... Amen and Amen!
_________________Whitney
