DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

"In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.' " (Matthew 3:1-3)

A new age was dawning. The prophets had been silent for 400 years. Now John the Baptist has appeared from the wilderness to proclaim a message of repentance and the good news that the promised Messiah was about to be revealed. He was preparing people for the appearance of the coming Savior.

The manger in Bethlehem is in the distant past. Thirty or so years have gone by, and Jesus was about to enter into His ministry. He had matured during these years. He had grown "in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52). Now it was time for Him to complete His mission.

God used John the Baptist to introduce Jesus to the world. He was fulfilling the prophecy given by the prophet Isaiah: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God" (Isaiah 40:3).

Many people responded to his message and indicated their change of heart by being baptized in water. But there were some who came to be baptized who John discerned did not have a change of heart – specifically the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the religious people – and he gave them a scathing rebuke. "You brood of vipers!" does not sound like the normal altar call.

We are not John the Baptist. We do not have his special calling to prepare the way for Jesus' appearance. But does it ever seem to you that you are like a voice in the wilderness when you share to Gospel – the Good News of Jesus? There are some who have a heart-change and receive the message. But there are others who you sense do not receive your witness.

Regardless of how people respond, we still have the great mission to proclaim the Gospel of repentance and to prepare hearts to receive Jesus as Savior. It is an awesome privilege and responsibility. We are not responsible for peoples' response to the message, only for being faithful in our witness. May God help us to present the clear message of the Gospel as John the Baptist did – a call to repentance because the Kingdom of God is here.

Love, Dad