Body

WHAT PREPARATION ARE YOU MAKING?

Text: Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1, Matthew 3:1-3, 11:7-11

There are plenty of preparations taking place for Christmas. It really is getting close and I see people scurrying around trying to get their shopping done, getting decorations up, planning for trips home or for company coming. When we think of the words "hustle and bustle" we automatically thing of Christmas.

As you perhaps have read already today in your bulletin insert, there is another type of preparation that should take precedence over anything else we may do. It is the preparation of our hearts to experience Christmas as it should be experienced---a time for us to prepare a way for the Lord to make a fresh inroads into our lives. It is also a time to prepare the hearts of others to receive the Christ of Christmas.

John the Baptist was the voice crying in the wilderness. Isaiah prophesied John's coming to prepare the way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3). Let us examine the preparations we are making or not making as the celebration of the birth of our Savior approaches.

I. TAKE A LOOK AT THE PREPARATIONS YOU ARE MAKING

Ok, let's be honest. If you are like most folks you are already working your way through your Christmas list. You're making a list, checking it twice.........well, you know the routine---it's as old as Christmas. Actually, our routine is really not that old. You see, Christmas has been around for a very long time but the way that we celebrate is not so old. Our particular ways of celebrating Christmas did not really begin in this country until the mid 1800's. I am just about convinced it was invented by the retailers. If it wasn't, then they certainly picked up the ball and ran with it.

To be honest with you a lot of our "traditions" that we prepare so much for have pagan origins. I am not saying to you today that we should get rid of our Christmas trees and remove the evergreen sprigs from our homes. I am not telling you to toss out your mistletoe because it was sacred to the Druids, a very pagan cult in England during the dark ages that is still active today. I am not urging you not to give gifts even though the practice of exchanging presents at Christmas stems from the ancient Roman custom called Strenae. During the Saturnalia Roman citizens used to give "good luck" gifts (strenae) of fruits, pastry, or gold to their friends on New Year's Day.

I am simply saying that we spend so much time preparing for Christmas by following traditions that have very little to do, if anything, with the true meaning of Christmas and then we fail to prepare to experience Christmas as it should be experienced.

Is it any wonder that people go through the Christmas season without every capturing the joy that the season should bring.

So, ask yourself the question, "What am I preparing for?" Then, take a close look and give an honest answer. You may be surprised what you hear yourself saying.

II. TAKE A LOOK AT THE PREPARATIONS YOU SHOULD BE MAKING

The text in Isaiah says that we are to "make straight a highway for our God". I don't have to tell you today that there are a bunch of obstacles that stand in the way between us and God in our society. If we as the people of God are doing our part then we should be out there moving boulders.

The roads have been neglected, debris is cluttering the highway, the straight paths have been made crooked, mountains have risen up to block the path. Man is so far away from God that the situation seems helpless. But, God still has His highway crew (us) and Jesus is a bulldozer, clearing a path to the Father.

Listen to what God wants to do: And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16).

He wants to use us in this work that is described in Isaiah 42:16:

A. Help the blind to see---Only Jesus can do that and He wants to work through us.

B. Show people the new and living way: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:19-20)

I just love this one: Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye

not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:19.

I remember a song that I learned when I was just a child:

My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow

Strength for today is mine alway, and all I need for tomorrow

My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow

If we are going to show people the way through the wilderness then we must get in line behind Jesus and lead those that would come behind us. We must show them "the paths that they have not known".

C. If we are going to prepare the way of the Lord then we must let our Light shine.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined (Isaiah 9:2).

D. If we are going to prepare the way of the Lord then we must remove the obstacles (make the crooked paths straight).

It has to start with us. When John the Baptist went into the wilderness of Judea he had a simple message: "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:1).

It all boils down to this: If we are really going to experience Christmas then we each must prepare our hearts. We must go through the painful process is looking inward and seeing what obstacles are there that would keep us from having a fresh encounter with the Christ of Christmas. We must take an honest look at the attitudes, the sin, the idols---anything that has come between us and the Lord.

Then we must get on our knees before Him and say, "Father, forgive me. I have been too caught up in my preparations that I have failed to prepare my heart for the coming of your Son. I have not been obedient to you. I have done those things which I ought not to do and left undone the things I ought to do. Father, please remove the obstacles that are keeping me from You."

Sad to say, it is often the people of God that stand in the way of others coming to Him. I don't know how many times I have heard people say, "If it wasn't for those hypocrites down there at the church..........." I know that is often just an excuse but there is more than a grain of truth to that statement.

Conclusion:

This Christmas season let us make the proper preparation for the coming of Jesus into the world. Let us remember that His coming was not only to be with us here on earth but also to bring about our reconciliation with God---to make a way to the Father!

Back to Sermons