Getting Ready for the End to Come

 Billy's friend was bragging how well his last recipe had turned out. Billy said, "I have a cookbook. But I can't cook." "Too much work?" "No. The problem? Each recipe starts with, 'Take a clean dish.' " His problem is Jerusalem's problem. And ours. To get to heaven starts with a clean dish. None of us have one. All fall short of God's glory. We need a Savior. But to receive a Savior, we have to be ready. How? Let's look at Isaiah 40:1-11. 1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. God punishes sin. For eternity, if we hang onto it. Even in this life, all sin is judged. When God's people sin, we receive discipline. That's why Jerusalem's people were in Babylon. When discipline is complete? 2aSpeak tenderly to Jerusalem. God longs to speak tenderly! (To us, too.) 2bProclaim to her, 3 things. 2c1st, her hard service has been completed. Yay! Discipline in Babylon is complete.2d2nd, her sin has been paid for. Her sin debt? Paid. (So is ours.) Best of all, 2e3rd, she's received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. Double! Why double? Ex 22:1-4 establishes a principle: restitution. More than payback. She paid double. Restitution. Justice is served. Her slate? God has erased it. Their story is our story. Why? All sin is judged. Their issue is our issue. How can we stay sin-free? How can our dish stay clean? We need a Savior! 2700+ years ago, to announce one God said He'll send a herald. 3aA voice calling. 3b"In the desert prepare the way for the Lord! How? Same as any king. 3cMake straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Not a goat trail. It's for God. 4aEvery valley shall be raised up, every mountain & hill made low. Level the way. 4bRough ground, level. Rugged places, a plain. Prepare extravagantly. Why? 5aThe Lord's glory will be revealed. How? As God in the flesh. God-man on the cross. We can't miss it. 5bAll mankind will see it. How sure is this? 5cThe mouth of the Lord has spoken." Why's this urgent? 6aA voice says, "Cry out." I said, "What shall I cry?" "All men are like grass. Here a season & gone. 6bAll their glory fades & falls like wildflowers. Why? 7The Lord's breath blows on them. 8Grass withers. Flowers fall. Life is short. But God's word stands forever." God promised the Savior we need. It's news too good to keep. Why? Guess who the Savior is! 9You who bring good tidings (gospel) to God's people, go up on a high mountain. Lift up your voice. Shout! Don't be afraid. Say to everyone, "Here's your Savior-God!" 10See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power. His arm rules for him. See, his reward & recompense (our redemption) accompany him. He won't be harsh. 11aHe tends his flock like a shepherd. Guiding. Providing. Nurturing. He gathers the lambs in his arms & carries them close to his heart. Tenderly. 11bHe gently leads those that have young. He's the Good Shepherd. He's the Savior we need. And He's coming back. While we wait, how can we get ready? Let's turn to Mk 1:1-8. 1The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ (Messiah), God's Son. 2It's written in Isaiah. Our verses. "I'll send my messenger ahead of you. He'll prepare your way." He'll be 3"a voice of one calling in the desert: 'Prepare the Lord's way. Make straight paths for him.' " How? Prepare a straight highway into people's hearts for the Lord's coming. 4aJohn the Baptist came, baptizing in the desert region. His 4bpreaching? Baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Only Gentiles baptized. Jews only baptized proselytes on entering Judaism. Amazingly 5athe whole Judean countryside went out to him. Even Jerusalem. 5bConfessing their sins, John baptized Jews in the Jordan River. And Jews don't get baptized! He's the greatest preacher ever! How'd he attract them? This 1st prophet in 400 yr. dressed simply, like prophets of old. 6aJohn wore clothing made of camel's hair, a leather belt around his waist. His diet? As simple as his clothes. Like the prophets. 6bHe ate locusts & wild honey. 7aHis message? Repent! The prophets' message. That's how John prepared hearts for the coming Messiah. John also modeled it. How? He shows us his readiness: humility. "After me will come one more powerful than I. His sandal thongs, I'm not worthy to untie. His readiness: humility. 8I baptize you with water. He'll baptize you with the Holy Spirit." In Jn 3:30, he'll say 30"He must become greater. I must become less." John knows Jesus is 1st. That's real humility. A man asked a symphony orchestra conductor, "What's the hardest instrument to play?" Thoughtfully, he answered. "2nd violin. I have plenty of 1st violinists. But someone who can play 2nd violin with enthusiasm? That's hard to find! And without a 2nd violin, we have no harmony." Jesus will return. There are so many signs of Tribulation, that it feels like His coming is soon. That means the end is coming soon. How can we get ready for Jesus to return? Start playing 2nd violin. Recognize that Jesus is 1st violin. We're 2nd. Like John the Baptist. So in humility we start playing 2nd violin. Follow Jesus' melody. Not ours. Then, receive what John preached. In repentance, confess our sins. When Jesus comes, so will judgment. Want to be ready to face judgment without fear? Start with humility. Recognize that we're 2nd. Not 1st. Jesus is to have 1st place in our lives. Put on humility as our garment. And in humility, confess our sins. Turn to God. Repent. Joel 2:13 puts the 2 ideas together. Want to be ready? In Joel's words, 13Rend your heart & not your garments. Return (שׁוב, repent) to the Lord your God, for he is gracious & compassionate, slow to anger & abounding in love, & he relents from sending calamity. Getting Ready for the End to Come - Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8 Page 1 of 1