Luke 3:4-6: … The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
John the Baptist quoted Isaiah 40:3-5 and applied it to his ministry of repentance. Topologically, it reads like one is preparing a landing strip for a large aircraft. Or a railroad bed through the mountains. But John was speaking about preparing hearts to see the salvation of the Lord. So, the valleys and mountains, crooked and rough places pertain to the state of the souls of people. This is profound.
What is a valley of the soul then? A depressed, downtrodden area of shame and abandonment? It would make sense, yes. And a mountain? A proud, too-lofty peak that lords a person over others and even authority. Crooked and rough places are variants of sinful behavior, perhaps known to the person with excuses and justifications such that they were never confronted before.
Repentance takes no prisoners. Sin dies and a person has nothing else to lean on but forgiveness.
But it’s vital to remember that this repentance was in preparation of One who would set captives free. That is, though people may well seek to have sins erased, it is only the work of the Savior that truly frees. Forgiveness and freedom are granted separately, and freedom is of course, a far more hard-fought entity.
It is God’s will that humankind be free from sin, not just forgiven for it. Like it or not, that is a progressive move in the lives of his children. For humankind is deeply bound, realizing it or not.
What, then are my valleys, mountains, crooked and rough places? May the Holy Spirit convict. And how will I be set free, not just forgiven? By God’s grace, accountability and learning to walk a different path, even in my thought life and my words. That God will do it is sure – I’ve seen it for years. Freedom is glorious and worth every step taken to walk in.
Amen.
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