Prepare ye the way of the Lord

Lately I found myself listing three areas that we as Christians need to focus on while it is still day. Night is coming when no man will be able to work (John 9:4); and just as in the days before the revealing of Jesus, a voice called out in the wilderness, “prepare ye the way of the Lord,” (Mt. 3:3) may the voice of the Holy Spirit call within us to do likewise while it is still called, “today” (Heb. 3:7).

We are all familiar with the diverse interpretations when it comes to end-time prophecies. There is no dearth of opinions and counter-opinions when it comes to interpreting what the Bible calls, “the day of the Lord” or in contemporary parlance—the rapture. Though none of us can say with absolute certainty if the rapture will take place before, during or after the tribulation; in this writing I lean to one side of the three views with the sole purpose of encouraging ourselves to readiness.

If for the purpose of being prepared we regard that our Lord Jesus will tarry until the end of the tribulation, it would mean that the Church would be in the midst of very, very trying times. There is little doubt that in the tribulation there will be unprecedented challenges, enormous difficulties, threat to life and huge pressure to choose the path of least resistance. When Jesus said, “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short” (Mt. 24:22) it means that times will be so bad that living each day will be a victory in itself. Now if the Church remains during the tribulation should we not ready ourselves while we still have opportunity? Or should we like the ostrich hide our head in the sand with mistaken hope? There are three areas that we need to work on and strengthen. These are amazingly simple but they bring profound commitment.

True repentance is the first area. Much too often we take forgiveness lightly. Because God is gracious and compassionate, He cleanses us, makes us as white as snow, and promises, “I will remember your sins no more.” Yet, more often than not, we return to our old vomit, with a tinge of guilt, yet nonetheless indulgent. The fact that we grieve God each time hardly bothers us. It doesn’t break our hearts like it does His.

True repentance makes a complete 360 degree turn. It cries to God, our Helper, “Save me O God! Deliver me from all evil. Keep my feet from slipping. Strengthen me to live holy. I do not want to make Thee sad.” We bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Mt. 3:8). We take radical steps to no longer do the things we did when we say, “I’m sorry!” Such an attitude does not compromise. It is conscious to make right, God-fearing choices each day. 

Faith with perseverance is the second area. Quoting the definition of faith from Hebrews 11:1 is one thing. Trusting with absolute confidence Him who never fails; clinging to Him whose love endures forever and relying heavily on Him who cares for us more than we can ever think or imagine—is another. It requires God to open our eyes to ‘see’ Him on the throne, ruling with wisdom and power and love in never-changing faithfulness. “I know whom I have believed in,” becomes the anthem of the one full of faith.

In the last days when the sixth seal is broken there is a great earthquake (Rev. 6:12). The earth will reel to and fro like a drunkard. (Isa. 24:20). At the sound of the trumpets, 1/3 of the earth will be burnt up (Rev. 8:7); 1/3 of the sea becomes blood (Rev. 8:8); 1/3 of the rivers are unusable (Rev. 8:10, 11). The woes then amplify. And though God explicitly tells us that the bond-servants of God will be sealed on their foreheads before these great and terrible things take place (Rev. 7:3); our Lord Jesus asks, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Lk. 18:8) Twice in this context, the book of Revelation calls for the perseverance of the saints who keep God’s commandments and faith in Jesus. (Rev. 14:12; Rev. 13:10) 

True faith, even if as small as a mustard seed, brings deliverance from fear and anxiety. Faith with perseverance knows that the One we have believed in is perfect in all He does. It is confident that there is no one and nothing that will snatch us out of the Father’s hand. It rests with absolute certainty in the One who never fails. It knows that even though we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death we need fear no evil.

The third area that the Church needs to focus on is obedience. Obedience requires submission to every word that God has given. Obedience is unquestioning surrender to the wisdom of God’s word even if the conventional wisdom of the world deems it foolish. The simple desire to honour God’s commands without leaning on our own understanding is vital for God to direct our path and bless our way.

I believe that if in these days of plenty; if in these days of peace and comfort, we live daily as sons of light and sons of day (1Thes. 5:5 but read from vs. 1 through 11) we shall stand firm. Though the love of many will grow cold it is the one who endures to the end that will be saved (Mt. 24:12, 13). God is able to keep us safe until the very end. By His help we will stand. Though the fires may rage, we will not be burned. In the flood of delusion, we will not drown. God will hide us in the safety of His wings.