A voice of one calling in the desert, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.” (Luke 3:4-6)
I have read and heard these words before. They are a quote from the prophet Isaiah (40:3-5) and they describe John the Baptist’s ministry and role. John was sent to prepare the way for the Lord. How was he supposed to do this? By removing all obstacles and hindrances. The path was to be made straight. The valleys filled in. The mountains made low. The crooked roads straightened. And the rough roads paved. Why? So that all mankind will see God’s salvation.
In other words, John came to make sure that all roads pointed to Christ. Anything that would obscure a person’s view of Jesus or hinder them from coming to Jesus was to be removed. When this is done, Isaiah says, And the glory of the LORD will be revealed and all mankind together will see it (40:5).
As I reflected this morning, I realized that my role today is to mirror the ministry of John. My goal is to remove obstacles and hindrances from before people so that they can see Jesus. If they are in an emotional valley, I am to help fill it in so they can see Jesus. If all they see when they think of Christianity is a mountain of hypocrisy and self-righteousness, then I am to live in authenticity and humility so they can see Jesus. If they are on a crooked path, then in love I am to point out the destructiveness of sin and share God’s truth with them so that they can see Jesus. And if the road they are on is rough, I am to help smooth it out so that they can see Jesus.
That is my role. I can’t save anyone. All I can do is level the road so that a person’s view of Jesus is unobscured. Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed and all mankind together will see it.
The same is true for a church. We are to make sure that all things point to Jesus. We are to seek to fill in valleys, remove mountains, straighten crooked paths, and smooth rough roads in people’s lives so that they can clearly see the glory and salvation of God. Then when they see God’s salvation, they have to make the personal choice whether to receive it or not.
I love the fact that Luke 3:6 says that all mankind will see God’s salvation. God will make sure that His salvation is seen…if not through us or through our church, then through someone else or some other avenue of revelation. God’s heartbeat is for the world. And the birth of Jesus is to be good news of great joy that will be for all the people (2:10).
How are we doing at Sayre Woods in filling in valleys, removing mountains, straightening crooked paths and smoothing rough roads? I wonder. I guess the answer to that question depends in large part on how I am doing in my own life. How is my testimony? How is my ministry? How is my integrity? How are my relationships?
Let us pray that God uses us more and more to prepare the way for the Lord so that more and more people can see His glory.