Be Prepared!

Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts, was often asked, “Be prepared…for what?” His response was automatic, “Why, for any old thing.” And for over a century young men and women have learned that phrase and learned how to be prepared for any eventuality.

My dad spent his early years after high school like many in his generation, serving in the armed forces. He served in the Army during WWII, and not too many years later in Korea. I don’t know if it was his army training or whether it was his sense of humor, but he came away from his service with all sorts of pithy sayings. One of which was, “Hurry up, and wait.”

It seems like a contradiction in terms.

Listen to this message from Isaiah this morning, and see if you hear any similar contradictions:

Isaiah 40:1–11 ESV

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

The idea of waiting is also anticipating, and it’s preparing.

In the midst of our pandemic we are waiting for this to be over. We’re waiting for a vaccine. We’re waiting and hoping, and planning. But what about Jesus? Are we hopeful in our waiting for Jesus return? Are we planning? Are we making preparations for his arrival?

Here Israel is being reminded of God’s steadfast love for them. Even though they’ve been through a lot, and felt abandoned by God, doubly punished for their sins. Take comfort, the Creator God still identifies with you.

And there isn’t an obstacle that is going to prevent Him from coming to Jerusalem - just as there is no obstacle that will prevent Jesus return to as he promised.

Make straight in the desert a Highway for God,

Every Valley shall be lifted up,

Every Mountain shall be made low;

The uneven ground shall become level,

and the rough ground shall become plain.

Reminds me of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - Ain’t no mountain high enough, Ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough to keep Him from getting to you.

The promise is there.

In the New Testament John The Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus.

We read in Mark 1:1-8

Mark 1:1–8 ESV

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ” John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

And we know that Jesus came to this earth and walked among us. He forever changed the meal that we will symbolically take part in today. Jesus gathered with his disciples and celebrated the Passover feast recalling God’s protection, provision and guidance of Israel since the beginning. How God had brought salvation to Israel bringing them out of Egypt, to the promised land, and continued to walk with them.

Jesus tells the disciples at that celebration that HE Himself is the passover lamb the bread was HIS body given for them. The cup that is poured out for them is the covenant in HIS blood.

Yet they didn’t understand. Why? Because Jesus hadn’t been arrested, tried, and put on a cross. He hadn’t died yet. He hadn’t risen yet. IT is because of Easter that you and I are able to understand so much better the message of the Passover, and the message of Communion.

But wait, do we really understand it?

We call it communion - to commune together indicates a deep connection, it is to have all things in common - and we celebrate communion with Christ. And are we?

Lent vs. Advent

Unlike Lent, the season of Advent is not typically seen as a season of repentence. It is a time of waiting, a time of expectation, a time of hope and a time of preparation.

Part of our preparation has to be repentance. What obstacles do we have in our lives that might prevent us from seeing God’s working in our lives? What valleys are you choosing to go down into? Are you choosing the straight path or are you darting different directions?

The question is upon His return will Jesus find us ready.

Our last passage for this morning is from 2 Peter 3:8-15

2 Peter 3:8–15 ESV

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

My prayer for you, for each of you is that during this holiday season you would be drawn to Jesus and His light. Caught up in the wonders of His love. Amazed by the grace lavished upon you.

My prayer is that during this season you would continue to be changed into the person you were created to be. People of the light. People prepared for Jesus return. The people of His pasture, the flock HE shepherds.