Preparation of the way of the Lord
Greetings to you, dear friends, and my blessings to you!!
I thank the Lord for sending us His Word daily; it strengthens our spiritual life and helps us to move forward.
Today I would like to talk to you about the preparation of the way of the Lord. The preparation of the way precedes the coming of the Lord. Our readiness to meet God determines the actual experience with God. If we are not ready, we will be left outside of what God is doing. But if we are adequately prepared, we will be qualified to experience the visitation of the Lord. Let’s look the Scripture.
“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” ( Isaiah, 40:3-5).
God has a way. He does not force Himself on people; He is the God of order. Until there will be a way prepared for God, He won’t come. Many of us would like for God to come, but He does not come without proper preparation. God goes where people are ready for His visitation. And when God comes, then all barriers are cast aside, the desert starts blooming, the mountains and hills are brought down, the valleys will be filled, the crooked places are made straight and the rough places are made smooth. God can show us the great picture of what He wants to do among us and through us as His people or the Church. But it will take a serious preparation and it will require of us to be very responsible.
All through the Bible we can see God’s order of things – starting with the Old Testament and ending in the New. Here are a few biblical examples confirming this principle.
«Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. (..) And he said to the people, „Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives” (Exodus, 19:10-11, 15).
Before coming down upon Mount Sinai, God commanded Moses to prepare God’s people. Without that preparation God’s visitation wouldn’t be possible. Or if God came without this preparation, they would have died in His presence. Sometimes people do not realize what it means to ask for God’s glory or His presence. If God didn’t hold back, we would be witnesses of people dying in His presence. When God visited the early church, two dead bodies were carried out of the place. And it happened because the hearts of these people were not prepared to meet with God.
«But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, „Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? You have not lied to men but to God.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, „Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, „Yes, for so much.” Then Peter said to her, „How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things» (Acts, 5: 1-11).
If we are expecting God’s glory and presence among us, we must prepare the way for Him. We must cleanse our hearts from the things God hates. God’s eyes are pure and cannot see evil things.
«You are of purer eyes that to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, and hold Your tongue when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he?» (Habakkuk, 1: 13).
We must prepare the way so that the Lord could come in glory and fullness. Prepare the way of the Lord through a holy life!
God bless you today!
Till tomorrow!
Pastor Rufus Ajiboye
