December 14: THE WORK OF THE LORD (part 2)
A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3 (ESV)
Our entire world, in its state of lostness, is a wilderness; like a desert, it is a dry and thirsty land where the water of life (John 4:14) has been rejected by the majority. Indeed, it is the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4). Most everyone, in looking around — or even listening to snippets of current events — seems to agree that the world is in, or rapidly nearing, an all-out state of emergency. This is certainly not good news. In such unfavorable conditions, how, pray tell, are we to prepare and make straight the way for the LORD to come? With the clock ticking away, the world is in a terrible state of emergency!
The great news, however, is that the Lord Himself does the actual work of preparing and making straight the way for His arrival, for the completion of His rescue mission of those who are saved. In His faithfulness, He who says, “I am the LORD who sanctifies you” accepts the sinner’s humble and sincere invitation. The dear Christ enters in and makes His home within a willing heart. Thus, the process of purification begins. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8). A priceless lesson taught to this writer as a young person was the importance of valuing the counsel of the Wonderful Counselor above the counsel of man (Acts 5:29; Psalm 118:8). Another way of saying it is: “Do not let what you don’t understand in the Word of God keep you from obeying what you do understand.” Willing obedience to what is clear (see John 14:15) brings the spiritual treasures of increased understanding and deeper wisdom—all by the Holy Spirit’s power—as the Lord continues His miraculous work within hearts. Jesus said, “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance;” (Matthew 25:29a – see also 13:12a). On the other hand, an unwillingness to obey anything that is clear places a roadblock in the Lord’s work of sanctification. Such an attitude of turning back to worldly ways eventually renders one deaf to the Holy Spirit’s gentle voice. Jesus continued: “but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away” (25:29b; 13:12b – see also Hebrews 10:38). Regarding God’s counsel: “I will” is far and away more important than I.Q. (see James 4:17)
A significant portion of the Savior’s ministry was devoted to how to keep the Sabbath. The religious leaders had piled a burdensome mountain of rubbish onto the people, making it a day of dread (but see 1 John 5:3). In our day, the great Deceiver intends to change (Daniel 7:25) it to a different day as well as rob it of its purpose of precious, uninterrupted, healing time with the Lord. Not only is the how of Sabbath keeping misrepresented by Satan, but the when as well (see Genesis 2:1-3). Beloved, we all need the Lord to do His work in us… All of His counsel is good, for He wants to bless us, making us ready for His coming!
If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 58:13-14 (see also 56:4-7; 66:17; Exodus 31:13; Ezekiel 20:12, 20; Psalm 37:4; Mark 1:21-31; 2:23-28; 3:1-6; 6:2-6; 15:42; 16:1; Luke 4:16-21; Luke 6:1-11; 13:10-16; 14; 23:54-56; John 5:9-14; John 7:22-23; 9:14-16; Acts 13:14, 27, 42, 44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4; Revelation 14:7 [compare to Exodus 20:11])