Though most people try to avoid it or get it over with as quickly as possible, you can’t overemphasize the importance of preparing. When something doesn’t turn out just right or the job turns out to be much harder than expected, the problem can often be traced back to lack of adequate preparation. We didn’t bother to put down a prime coat or wait for the spackle to dry completely before we started painting. We didn’t dig down deep enough when laying the foundation or take the time to assemble the scaffolding, convincing ourselves that a ladder would be good enough. Had we just taken a moment to jot down a shopping list, we could have spared ourselves that second or even third trip to the grocery store. We’ve all been there more times than we’d like to admit. Preparing involves having a clear understanding of what needs to be accomplished, and the best way to go about it. Preparation is vitally important.
This morning we considered the ministry of John the Baptist (Matt. 3 & Luke 3) as foretold by the prophet Isaiah some hundreds of years before: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God…’ “(Isa. 40:3). It has been said that much of the success of Jesus’s ministry was a direct result of the work of John. “For he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah… to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). These words were spoken by the angel Gabriel as he announced the coming birth of John to Zacharias. Of all the prophets that had preceded him, John had the special privilege of being a contemporary of the Messiah and calling to repentance the very people that Jesus himself would minister to. Among those born of women, there had not risen a greater prophet than John the Baptist (Matt. 11:11). He knew his call and fulfilled it by the Holy Ghost.
John preached the baptism of repentance, and multitudes came to hear his message. He was very specific about the attitudes and lifestyles they needed to repent of. He spoke of our obligation to the poor and needy, of not taking advantage of our fellow man, of being honest and harmless in all of our dealings. Nor did he back down when the self-righteous Pharisees and Sadducees came to denounce his message. He was not impressed with their relation to Abraham (for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23). He demanded absolute sincerity. Words were not enough. We must show by our actions that we are truly turning away from our sin.
But that was only half of what John preached – his message was two-fold. Not only are we to turn from our sin, but we must turn to the Savior. “(There is coming one after me), the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.” (Luke 3:16) “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) First John made them see their need of a Savior, then he pointed them to the very one who could meet that need. Pointing people to Jesus was his greatest joy and made his work complete. The Holy Ghost is still doing that in lives today.
Holy Ghost conviction is among our greatest needs in this day and age. Have you ever experienced the frustration of trying to convince someone to see a doctor when all the while they keep insisting they aren’t sick? Likewise, how can we expect people to turn to the Great Physician if they are not willing to admit that they are sinners? That’s where the work of God’s Holy Spirit comes in. Our supposed righteousness falls far short of God’s righteous standard for our lives. Only the righteousness of Christ can satisfy the heart of our Heavenly Father, and Jesus has made that available to us by faith. He came to save us from our sins. Coming to him for lesser reasons only results in a “half-baked” salvation - one that’s missing the main ingredients, which is really no salvation at all.
Proper preparation is of the utmost importance. It’s worth all the time and effort you put into it. So how do we prepare for life and ministry? Humbly turn from sin and seek to be filled with the Spirit of God!
