This is how to prepare the way for the Lord
It is a common scene that most of us have seen so many times, we hardly think of the magnificence of the effort. A giant road or highway gently passes through mountains, over valleys, and past hills with smooth slopes, easy curves, and even pavement. This allows vehicles to quickly, easily, and efficiently traverse the terrain with speed and safety. Yet, creating that highway was no small undertaking. Massive hills would be reduced to rubble and that rubble used to raise the valley floors between the hills. Other hills would be carved out completely to allow straighter paths through the hill as opposed to crooked roads trying to go around the hill. In modern times, massive equipment, explosives, and sophisticated engineering all work together in the process of transforming the landscape for travel.
One is reminded of this reality when reading from Isaiah 40 as the prophet cries out, “A voice cries out: "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.” The sentiment is echoed by John the Baptizer in the opening verses of Mark’s Gospel when he proclaims that he is “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make God’s paths straight,'”
Although more a metaphor of humanity’s opportunity to connect with God than a description of modern highway construction, the correlation of the two is a powerful way to understand the significance of Isaiah's prophetic vision as an example for the Church today.
The idea of a “highway for our God” and making “God’s paths straight,” can refer to acknowledging what God does in the birth of Jesus Christ to solidify, clarify, and strengthen the quality of our connection to the Divine. Truly, in overcoming sin, which is humanity’s biggest obstacle to connecting with God, it is as if Jesus himself blasted out mountains and raised valleys to create a simple, straight, and smooth pathway to God. The prophetic metaphor can also point to the believer’s responsibility in the process. In the wilderness of everyday life, it is the believer that is to put in the labor to create this highway to God. While God may be the one to do the miraculous work of cutting through mountains and raising valleys, it is one’s faith in God that makes it possible to see things happen for the good.
Unfortunately, for as much as God has done to make straight pathways and a highway to God, many well-intended believers get in God’s way and place unnecessary road blocks in the way of salvation. Restrictive doctrines, misguided rituals, rhetoric riddled with rancor and ridicule, Biblical interpretation that exclude, divide, and demonize diversity, and arrogantly exclusively proclamations of superiority serve only to reverse and undermine the power of the Cross. It is not that believers or churches intend to cause harm. In fact, most Christians are genuinely passionate about serving Christ with our whole selves and encouraging others to do the same. However, when one’s practice of Christianity becomes more about pontificating religious absolutes and less about helping people find Christ, God’s work is undermined. The formally straight paths to God become crooked and winding trails through the wilderness of discouragement, violence, hatred, and fear.
As the church prepares for the joyous celebration of Christmas this year, it is important the faithful do more than put on parents, bibles, and worship. The church is called to be a highway to God that brings people on the path toward peace.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: This is how to prepare the way for the Lord