READ Isaiah 40

In my NIV Bible, this chapter has a heading that says “Comfort for God’s people”.  Although I appreciate the comfort I receive from the Lord as outlined in v1&2 that tells me my sin has been paid for and my hard service completed, I don’t actually think that’s what this chapter is about.  As I memorized and internalized the words of this chapter, I realized that what it’s really about is the coming of the Lord.  And yes, there’s comfort in that – but not for everyone.

Verse 3 has been applied, correctly, to John the Baptist as the forerunner and announcer of the Messiah Jesus.  This message applies to us as well, however.  Over and over in Isaiah 40 we are told that God is coming and we are to prepare the way.  When I think about the fact that He’s coming in power, I first get nervous.  Are we ready?  Am I ready?  I know my life is not spotless.  Whenever I get even remotely close to the Presence of God I start to feel dirty.  How do I prepare for such a coming as is announced here?

We are to ‘make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God’.  I like to think of my life in terms of a path and often use or reflect on this analogy when I think about following Jesus, or Him walking beside me, or where I’m headed.  How do I make that path ‘straight’ so it’s a highway for God?  Imagine the path of your life as a path strewn with rocks and weeds.  These rocks and these weeds are sin.  Some of the rocks are large and some are small; things you’ve done that you knew were wrong and you’re ashamed of.  When we bow down before God in repentance, confessing our sin and accepting the sacrifice Jesus made to forgive and cleanse us, then He comes and removes the rocks.  But for some of us it’s been a really long time since we first confessed and were cleansed and made a decision to follow Christ.  There is not one of us that has not sinned since that time.  As we look at the path of our life we see rocks that we have not confessed.  Picture Jesus walking down that path with you and stopping to turn over one of these rocks.  On the bottom of that rock is written the name of that sin.  Confess it to Him now.  Repent.  Repenting is different than confessing; that’s only part of it.  True repentance involves confessing by admitting that what you did was wrong, asking for forgiveness (and truly being sorry), receiving forgiveness as a pure gift of God’s grace, and then turning away from that sin and not doing it any more.  Real repentance always involves a turning and walking in the opposite direction.  Jesus told us in Matthew 3:8 to ‘Produce fruit in keeping with repentance’.  Your actions will prove whether or not you have really repented because you will change.

One by one, let Jesus turn over the rocks and show you your sin.  Repent and be cleansed.  It really helps to take time to think about what you’re going to replace that sin with if it leaves a ‘hole in the path’.  If you have a life-path full of holes, you’re probably going to fall back in if you don’t fill it in with another God-honouring activity.  But one great thing about rocks – when they’re gone, they’re gone.  They don’t come back.  They are gone from your path forever.

Not so with weeds.  These also are a representation of sin.  In the parable of the sower Jesus describes weeds this way “but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful”.  (Mark 4:19)  Weeds are the things that are choking the Word in your life.  The three examples of weeds that Jesus gives cause anxiety, have self as focus, and rival our love for God.  What are those things in your life?  Now it’s your turn to walk down and examine your path.  What weeds are there that you need to pull out?  Recurring sins that keep growing back?  Ask Jesus to help you get at the root, which may not be the ‘flower’ of the weed you see on the surface.  This is a matter of regular self-examination to keep our path clear and prepare the way for the Lord to come.

But He IS coming! His glory will be revealed (Isaiah 40:5).  It’s going to happen because ‘the mouth of the Lord has spoken”.  Will His glory be revealed in your life?  When the path is clear, you are in a place for God to use you to announce His coming to others, as it says in v9.  There are so many wonderful things this passage describes about God – the powerful Sovereign Lord (v10), a gentle shepherd (v11), the great and awesome Creator (v12, 25-26), far beyond our comprehension (v13-14).  He is truly God, not lifeless and wooden like the idols men worship (v18-20). He is Sovereign over all the leaders of the earth (v21-24)   He is not detached, He is near and understands our condition (v27).  He won’t grow weary! (v28)  The passage culminates with this beautiful promise for those who prepare and wait for His coming:   (v29-31)“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, even young m
en stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” 

 Are you prepared for His coming?