Prepare the Way

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”  Luke 3:4

The motorcade was still miles away, but the Secret Service had already scouted the small town, positioned snipers in strategic locations, and barricaded every intersecting street. Potholes had been filled, store windows polished, and shops closed for the afternoon. The President was coming. People lined the sidewalks waving flags and posters. No one wanted to be caught unprepared in case the President stopped for a photo op. Business as usual was canceled as everyone prepared the way.

That’s a physical picture of what John the Baptist preached before Jesus began His earthly ministry. “Prepare the way!” he cried. “The Messiah is coming! Get your hearts ready.” And they did. In droves, the people came confessing their sins and asking to be baptized. No one wanted to be caught unprepared by the Son of God. No one wanted to meet Him still cloaked in sin.

If we expect to have fellowship with God, we must do the same thing. We cannot barge into God’s presence dressed in unrepentant sin, expecting to continue business as usual. We prepare for God to work in our lives when we agree with Him about what needs to change. We ask Him to forgive us and clear our lives of sinful actions, attitudes, and habits we’ve accumulated. Business as usual is canceled and life takes on new purpose when we prepare the way of the Lord. 

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