A High-Way For Our God

Isaiah 40:3-5

A High Way For Our God

June 23, 2024

Isaiah is writing about the coming of the Messiah. These verses were partially fulfilled through the ministry of John the Baptist. Matthew 3:3 says In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.'" We will see their ultimate fulfillment when Jesus comes in His second advent, to rule as the King of Kings, and sets things right in the world. In His first coming, Jesus was the suffering Servant. In His second coming, Jesus will be the conquering King. In His first coming, Jesus arrived in the most humble of circumstances. In His second coming, Jesus will arrive with the armies of heaven at His side. While these verses are primarily about the future, they also point out the preparations the church must make for the Kingdom if we want to see the Lord move among us in a time of power and glory. It is these preparations that will allow us to contrast “a high-way” verses “a low-way”. God’s “High Way” always stands in contradiction to the World’s “Low Way.” As individuals and as the church of Jesus Christ we are called to “make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” According to the Prophet Zechariah, Jesus will set His feet on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and rule for 1,000 years over all the nations of the earth. While we wait for His return there must be:

I. A LIFTING “Every valley shall be exalted”

Isaiah refers to a “filling process.” A valley is “a crevice, a gutter, or a low place.” This speaks to us about the places in our lives that are lacking; the low places in our lives. We all have low spots in our walk with the Lord. We all have places that we have allowed to become hollowed out and shallow. Those places must be filled in and lifted up before the glory of God can truly be revealed in your life. For some it is a Spiritual Valley: Prayer life, Bible reading, Church attendance, Unforgiveness, Guilt, Anger or Self-righteousness. For some it is a Physical Valley: Financial problems; Marital issues, Substance addictions, the Hardships or any relationship or activities that have pulled us away from God. We must identify those low places that need to be filled in with the Fruit of the Spirit (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control). If we are willing to lift up by filling in the low places in our lives with the excellency of God, we will experience Him moving in our walk for the good of the Kingdom of Heaven.

II. A LOWERING “Every mountain and hill shall be made low”

This refers to a humbling process. A mountain or hill is something that stands taller than the landscape around it. Throughout history, mountains have always been barriers to man’s progress. They have hindered his efforts to explore his world and go where he wants to go. There are many potential mountains in our walk for the cause of Christ. Pride is a Mountain, Fear is a Mountain, Worry is a Mountain, Hypocrisy is a Mountain, Guilt is a Mountain and Unforgiveness is a Mountain. But in Mark 11:22 Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. We must work to tear down the mountains that stand between us and what God wants to do in our lives. Everyone here has mountains in their life. We all have attitudes, actions and passions that need to be brought down so that God can move in like He desires to. A preacher once said, “I have noticed that when mountains are brought down, low places are filled in.” We must look at our lives today and identify the high places that stand as mountains and hills between us and the Kingdom agenda.

III. A LINING UP “The crooked shall be made straight”

This refers to getting things lined up like they should be. The words “crooked” comes from a word that means “deceitful, sly, or slippery”. It speaks of a road that is deceptive in nature. It promises one thing and delivers another. It appears to be a level, easy way, but when traveled, it proves to be hazardous, and it always leads to a fall. Some of us have gotten ourselves into relationships that have led us away from God. That road is crooked and needs to be straightened out. Some of us have allowed work or recreation or some pursuit for advancement to lead us away from the Lord. Those are dangerous roads and need to be abandoned for the straight road of serving the Lord. Some of us are walking the crooked path of arrogance. We refuse to bow to the Lordship of Jesus in our lives. We hear His Word and turn a deaf ear to His call. That is a dangerous path! It needs to be abandoned for the path of humility in the service to the Lord.