It says in Isaiah and is quoted in part about John the Baptist:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make straight in the desert[a]
A highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places smooth;
5 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; cf Luke 3:4-6)
In other words, a prophet would come who would go before the Messiah and prepare society to receive her king. Whenever a king comes, the earth must be prepared lest he have any trouble. Better he ride on a horse and bring deliverance than that he ride on a mule and His people suffer judgement. … at least that was the Jewish perspective of the time. Yet on a mule he had to ride in order to fulfill prophecy. Humble he came, over the rough roads of Galilee, Samaria, and Nazareth.
Jesus later called all of us who are saints to engage in the same work that John did: lowing mountains and raising up valleys. No longer should the valley of the shadow of death be as dreadful for those whose hearts are lifted up to the Lord. No longer should the mountain top experiences lead us to arrogate ourselves against the Lord. Instead, we will walk upon a smooth path. Each person who walks with Jesus should help ease the way by going before others who follow them in the way of Jesus.
Are you leading others to Jesus or away from Jesus? Are you choosing to follow Jesus are walk away from Him? When you see others follow Jesus, do you try to put a stumbling block in their path or do you seek to smooth their path by encouraging them? Hopefully you are among those who cultivate faith though love.
Jesus later said in his own ministry that faith does exactly this, it prepares the way for the faith of others. To quote Jesus:
Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:20-21)
Later we read this:
And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:20-22)
Friends, could Jesus have been any clearer? He wants no obstacle to our faith! Heaven has come to earth. This is what Christmas is about. Now earth must make way for the Kingdom of Heaven to spread through out the earth so that none should perish but all should come to repentance. While Scripture is clear that this all is not “all” without exception, but all without distinction should respond to the Lord. Poor & rich, Jew & Gentile, slave & free, male & female, civilized & barbarian, near & far … ALL will be represented before the King of Heaven.
What chasm lays between you and God? If you will but perpetually pray in Jesus name, that barrier can be overcome.
As Paul testified to the Ephesians:
Jesus Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. (2:14-18)
If you need proof, look at how Nick Wallenda overcame fear and walked with the Lord across such a chasm on the path to victory:
If a chasm like the little grand canyon cannot interrupt him from worshipping the Lord God, why should the little troubles you face keep you from crying out continually to our Savior, “Lord, have mercy!” He is listening. Cry out to Him now! Jesus will save you. Jesus alone.
If you have chosen to follow Jesus today, feel free to email me at: mertaka (at) everybody-dot-org .
All Scripture Quotations from the New King James Version (NKJV) The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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