Monday, April 13th, 2009

Monday, April 13th, 2009

Isaiah 40:1-5
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned,that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

This passage, quoted by John the baptist as seen in Luke 3:4-6, is clearly speaking of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Israel had been afflicted, and troubled by war. They had heard prophesies of impending doom and capture by Babylon and other nations. They were fearful and knew that judgment was coming. Therefore, God, through Isaiah tells of the future hope of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God tells Isaiah to speak words of comfort instead of words of judgment to Jerusalem. God gives comfort to His people, and He commands Isaiah to speak in a tender manner towards His people. After all, the prophets spoke many things to Israel, and not a little were very harsh as was required.

Then, God tells the people that their time of battle and war is complete, that their sins and iniquities are pardoned, because they have completed their time of affliction. More than likely these first two verses are referring to the time of exile for the Israelites. God was telling the Israelites that there will come a time when the exile of the people will be over, the punishment for their rebellion and sin will be completed, and then they can look forward to the peace of God in Jesus Christ.

Then, the prophecy concerning John the Baptist comes, that the Savior, Jesus Christ is coming, and it is time to prepare road for Him to come.

When the King comes, in our culture, the president, every detail, every difficulty, every rough spot is worked out. All the details are planned and prepared in order to make his visit as smooth as possible.

So, for the coming of Jesus Christ, all of the valleys are to filled up to make them flat, all the mountains are to be torn down, to make them flat, all the uneven ground, all the bumps are to be filled in. In other words, the entire path in front of Christ is to be leveled and paved. The road He travels on should be flat and smooth.

This is what John the Baptist said to the Pharisees, and the people in the direct context of dealing with sin. John was preparing the way of the Lord, preaching repentance and the need to be clean for Christ. Notice though, that this is an impossibility, thus the need for Jesus Christ to pay the penalty. Why is it that Jesus didn't set up an earthly kingdom? Because the people were dirty, and needed salvation, because they couldn't make their own hearts smooth and without sin. Thus, a Savior was needed, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ has come, He has come to my heart. He has washed my heart, and taken my heart that was red like scarlet, and making it white as snow. So therefore, the question to my soul this morning is, Have I made my heart level? Have I flattened out the mountains in my life of sin, pride and arrogance? Have I filled in the valleys in my heart of spiritual sloth, self-centeredness and worldliness?

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, cries out to me this morning, and tells me that I should prepare the way in my life for the Lord. Give my all to Him, and ensure that every rough place is made into a smooth one.

Then, the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it. Who is the glory of the Lord, it is none other than the Lord, Jesus Christ. The beautiful One, who came to save me, and give me life abundantly. The Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Savior has come. All the world has seen Him. He has made known to them the glory of the Lord, and has made known to them the way of salvation.

Christ has actually leveled the mountains, raised the valleys, and filled in the holes, and paved the way for me. Christ has made the way straight, and now I know the way to God, to the heavenly city. Christ is my salvation. Yet, my own heart also has to be leveled after the work of Christ in me. I must make my life a living sacrifice to Him, thus, my life must show Him, and His path.