STRAIGHT

 

Write From My Heart

October 6, 2021

STRAIGHT in order; properly arranged

John 1:19, 23 (NIV) Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. … John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

            The person referred to in the above passage was not the Apostle John but rather he was the one who is often referred to as John the Baptist. Most scholars agree that John the Baptist was most likely a cousin of Jesus through the kinship of Mary and Elizabeth. As we read in early verses, John was given the task to prepare the world to receive God’s Son, Jesus Christ, as Savior.

John 1:6-9 (NIV) There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

            Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, was coming to be the Savior of a lost and dying world. He would be the means of salvation and restoration of the broken relationship between Holy God and sinful mankind. John’s job was to prepare the people to hear such glorious news. Christ was coming! Taking words from the prophet Isaiah, John identified himself as the one whose job was to put everything in order and make sure everything was properly arranged for the coming of the Savior. It was a job he took seriously and served faithfully until the day of his death.

            When you think about it, isn’t that what our job should be? If we honestly believe that Christ is coming again, shouldn’t our desire be to make sure everything is in order and properly arranged? Yes, get ourselves in order first…but we cannot ignore the fact that our witness should be to everyone with whom we come in contact. All people need to know the Savior is coming again. Christ has promised to return and his return is imminent—there is no time to delay to make straight the way for the Lord!