…the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “ The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’” -Luke 3:2-5 (NKJV)
During the month of January I am planning to preach a series of messages about the ministry of John the Baptist. One certainty about John was that he was not concerned with being a people-pleaser. John spoke the true, complete, and unvarnished truth. The Messiah was about to appear and people had better get their hearts ready. John was that voice crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” That message is still very relevant today. The coming of the Lord could occur at any time, or any one of us could be called out of this world and have to stand before Him. In either case, we had best be ready.
Because of Jesus Christ’s coming into the world and the salvation He has made possible, we can be ready. Through faith in Christ our sins can be washed away and we are given a new lease on life with a new heart and a new outlook. As Isaiah the prophet said in Isaiah 1:18, “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Consider, however, the countless people who drift through life with little to no thought as to their spiritual condition or where they will spend eternity. The Word of God teaches that once we breathe our last that the opportunity to get right with the Lord will have passed. Now is the time to receive Christ as Savior and Lord.
Jesus Christ empowers us to move forward knowing that our lives are in His hands. We need not fear tomorrow, for we know who holds tomorrow. The follower of Jesus can walk in the victory that Christ brings, and this victory presents us with a wonderful win / win situation. We live the abundant life in Christ, but when we leave this world we go to be with the Lord forever. Paul the apostle said it this way: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
If your heart is ready for the Lord’s coming then rejoice and serve Him every day with joy and gratitude. If your heart is not ready, then pray to receive Jesus as Savior right now. He will welcome you with open arms.
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