by Pastor Rich Carlson

With these words, Isaiah described the ministry of John the Baptist, who introduced the ministry of Jesus to the world. John was to prepare “all mankind” to see God’s salvation. That sounds like a powerful message! While the actual message is the life and story of Jesus, John was called to “prepare the way” (Isaiah 40:3) for that message and that Man.

I saw in that “preparing” journey of John a similar calling in my own life. He was called to prepare the way for Jesus and I am called to go and preach the gospel to everyone so that Jesus can come back (Matt. 28:19-20). John and I have similar tasks: helping people get ready to encounter Jesus.

But John’s mission was more specific than to just prepare the way for Jesus. Besides being called to be a preacher, Isaiah prophesied that John would “make straight paths for Him” (verse 4). Isaiah foretold that John would fill every valley; make every mountain and hill low; level every rough spot; and smooth all the rugged places (Isaiah 40:4).

I sensed in this text that my calling as a servant of God is to present in my words and actions a balanced, steady, consistent, life that a world in turmoil can turn to and say, “That is the kind of foundation I need to bring order out of chaos, focus out of distraction, intentionality out of a pointless existence.”

Our calling as Christians is to make a straight path so that others can realize that Jesus really is the answer. Faithfulness to Jesus with our whole life will fill in the valleys of discouragement. It will keep us from fleeting “mountaintop experiences” that often come crashing down because they were built on too much emotionalism and not enough on a connection to Jesus. Faithfulness to Jesus will result in keeping us on a consistent life path. Faithfulness to Jesus will smooth out the rough spots in life because we are not dependent on simply reacting to the obstacles life throws at us.

The more we allow the influence of God to be the guiding force in our lives, the more the valleys, mountains, crooked roads, and rough ways blend together into a consistent, faithful, and straight path for others to see. And when they see that, they see Jesus more clearly.

Our job is not to “fix” everyone else. It’s to fix our eyes on Jesus and allow Him to make our life into a straight, even, and faithful life lived for Him. In doing that, I believe we will “prepare the way of the Lord” (verse 3) and others will see Jesus.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.