This has long been attributed to John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus, the Messiah to come. Luke ascribes it to John (Luke 3:4) saying, “Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, ‘He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,’ “Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!””
But as I read this it sounds as much like a summons to us today, as much as to John in his day. After Jesus had risen from the dead, He spent time with many people proving that He was truly raised to life (Acts 1:3). He had told His disciples that He was coming back for His people; that He was going away to prepare a place for them. So, this same Jesus will be returning for us and it is up to up to be preparing the way.
Listen to the other things Isaiah is told to proclaim, “People are like grass, their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field, (Is. 40:6); Shout, and do not be afraid, ‘Your God is coming!’ (verse 9); The Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes,” (verse 10). This last portion is what convinces me that this is speaking to us as well as John—that He will be ruling and bringing His reward. Jesus didn’t do that at His first appearing on the earth, but He will at His second coming (Rev. 2:26-27 actually states that He will give His power to those who overcome and they will rule with a rod of iron, Rev. 22:12).
I want Him coming for me with reward, not the need to rule with an iron rod. I want to live my life in such a manner that He is proclaimed as Lord in the here and now. I don’t want to be made to bow, I want to willingly bow to Him (Rom. 14:11, Is. 45:23).
I want to live in the declaration of Isaiah 40:28-31, that, “The Lord, the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth never grows weak or weary.” I want to thrive in the promise that, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” I will walk in the truth that, “Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
Let’s live, walk and talk in such a way that we are preparing the way for the Lord and bringing as many people with us as we can.
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