“The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye 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 shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:”
Have you ever broken a path for someone? Maybe through the snow, or through underbrush in a forest or, as I once helped do, through stinging nettles that towered above you? It isn’t easy work, but if you’re going to get to your destination, it is necessary. Unless we are wandering aimlessly, there is usually a goal in mind when we break a path. We’re making a way to get somewhere at some specific time for some specific purpose. These verses refer to one such specific time, place, and purpose, but they also can relate to our hearts.
From the context of Scripture, the voice in the wilderness is clearly referring to John the Baptist, preparing the way for Christ and His earthly ministry. John, being virtually the same age as Jesus, obviously was not preparing the way for Christ’s birth, although the events leading up to John’s birth foretold of something amazing to come. Just the same, John was preparing the hearts of the people around Him to see God in the flesh, in the form of Jesus Christ.
This Christmas as we look toward the day when we celebrate His first coming our hearts need to be prepared. Preparation is not always easy. We know that, especially as we consider all the preparation that goes into being ready for the holidays: the cooking, the cleaning, the shopping, the invitations, the juggling of schedules, the going, going, going, and the doing, doing, doing. But the preparation that is needed most is the preparation of our heart because we are preparing to see the glory of the Lord, to dwell upon the miracle of the Christ child who left heaven to live among us and to die for us.
Preparing Ourselves
Preparing our hearts cannot be done in the din of activity. It must be done in the quiet places, even if that quiet place is a busy coffee shop with dozens of other people around or in your minivan as you run from one school event to another. Heart preparation begins in a quiet heart that has stepped away from the cares of the world, submitted its will to the Father, and humbly cried out for the needed preparation. That receptive heart will be more able to hear the still small voice of the Father as He reveals His glory to us. It prepares to worship, to praise, and to serve others. It is equipped through fellowship with Him to take on His mind and to walk in His steps as we reach out to those around us.
Helping Others Prepare
“Every valley shall be exalted.” Preparing the way includes leveling the road. Often sorrow of heart, discouragements, trials, and disappointments lead our road into deep valleys. Have you ever noticed that the sun sets sooner in the valley? That the glory of its descent is hidden by the towering cliffs around it? Perhaps this Christmas, our part in comforting God’s people is to help lead some out of the valley of discouragement onto the level ground that allows them to see His glory. For some, the great difference needed in their life will only come by the working out of God’s love through the compassion of His people. As we approach this time of keeping our hearts centered on the glory of the Messiah, how can we help those around us out of the valleys that block their view?
When God Must do the Preparation
“Every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.” Not every heart is prepared to enter those quiet places. Not every heart can be prepared by compassion. Pride, resentment, discontent, anger, self-will, depravity, and many other sins cause the heart to swell into a mountain that must be made low. They bend the path and strew its surface with hurdles and stones. Sadly, the chastening, leveling hand of the Lord must prepare some hearts.
This can be painful to watch, and even more painful to endure. For those who watch it is a time to enter into prayer for those we love. For those who find themselves in that place of heavy preparation the answer lies in surrender and repentance—in letting go of those things, which separate us from fellowship with God. We must allow Him to heal the damage we have wrought in our own hearts. It may be painful, but the result will be a way made plain, a view unhindered, a fellowship restored with the King of Glory.
This Christmas season as each day draws us closer to the celebration of His birth let us prepare our hearts to see His glory. Let us allow Him to remove those things that block our view. Let us make a difference in the hearts of others through the comfort He has called us to pour out upon them.
This year, I’m doing something I’ve never done before, completely unplanned. I’m going through Handel’s Messiah and meditating on the Scripture used there. For accountability’s sake, I’ll be sharing it here. If you’d like to join me for this series and other updates, simply fill out the form below.
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