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SCRIPTURE READINGS: ISAIAH 11:1-10, ROMAN 15:4-13, MATTHEW 3:1-12

REFLECTION
Make straight the path of the Lord is the theme for our reflection. To make a path straight means to clear any hindrance, impediment or barrier to make a path easily accessible. John the Baptist quoted from Isaiah 40:3, A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3). It is difficult to walk in the desert because of the mass of sand. To make straight a path in the desert means a path must be marked or designated and the sand totally cleared to make movement easy or effortless. John the Baptist adopted the figurative image or picture of making straight the path to mean to prepare spiritually and adequately for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is important to state that in Matthew 3:1-12, John the Baptist was both talking about the fulfilment of the first Advent and also making a prophetic declaration of the second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. What then does making straight the path of the Lord mean to us in our time?:
1. Making straight the path for the Lord means there is salvation and hope for all who believe.
2. Making straight the path for the Lord means we must preach the Gospel without ceasing.

Firstly, making straight the path for the Lord means before the Lord comes the second time, we must put away every impediment that will make our salvation and hope in Him futile. Salvation does not belong to only the Jews but to all who will prepare spiritually to embrace the Lord when He comes. This was the assurance given to us by the Prophet Isaiah when he said “In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.” (Isaiah 11:10). Paul testified to the manifestation of Isaiah’s prophecy when he wrote to the Romans, “For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed ⁹ and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.” (Romans 15:8-9) Indeed, when the Lord comes the second time, we shall share in His everlasting and glorious resting place. It is for this reason that we must remain hopeful and continue to trust Him as a way of making His path straight or be in preparation for His second coming. Paul’s prayer is still relevant for us today when He prayed, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) Dear friend in the Lord, let us make straight the path of the Lord by standing firm in faith, holding on to our salvation in Jesus Christ and remaining hopeful through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Paul further admonishes that as part of making straight the path for the Lord, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2).

Secondly, we must make straight the path of the Lord by preaching the Gospel without ceasing. Without the hearing of the Gospel and repentance, many will perish on the judgement day. It was for this reason John the Baptist preached, “, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” ³ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” (Matthew 3:2-3). We are in the era of dispensation of hope and grace even as we await the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the time for repentance and regeneration through the power of the Holy Spirit. John warns us that the judgment day clock is ticking, therefore we should ” Produce fruit in keeping with repentance…The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire…His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:8,10,12). It is our responsibility as believers to continue making straight the path of the Lord like John the Baptist by preaching the message of repentance and salvation in every corner of the world. Isaiah cautioned us about the judgement of the Lord when he said “He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; ⁴ but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.” (Isaiah 11:3-4). Beloved in the Lord, are you ready for the second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ? How prepared are you when He comes? Jesus does not want the world to be unprepared when He returns the second time that is why to make straight the path for His Advent, He commissioned, us when He said ““All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) Jesus must find us ready and preaching His Gospel to the world when He returns. The Advent season is another opportunity for preaching the Gospel or the Good News to the world. The world must hear the truth and be saved, the truth is that Jesus is the “…way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him”. (John 14:6) We must teach the world to understand that “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10) Let us use all the means available to us, to preach Good News. Let us use your social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram and all others to project the name of Jesus and to lead as many as we can to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is one of the surest ways to make straight the path for the Lord even as we await His second Advent.

In summary, we have deliberated on the theme “Make straight the path for the Lord” We have discovered that making straight the path of the Lord means there is salvation and hope for all who believe. Again, making straight the path for the Lord means we must preach the Gospel without ceasing until every corner of the world comes to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit empower us to make straight the path of the Lord even as we await His second Advent. Amen.