[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #638, Advent 2, 12/7/08

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Advent 2 – December 7, 2008

Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm. 85:1-2, 8-13
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8


A Two-Way Highway

Isaiah describes the earth-moving that has to be done if there is to be a highway fit for a king.  The king is coming!  Where is he coming?  To your place of exile.  To your place of imprisonment.  A super-highway dead-ending at your doorstep.  This highway is two-way.  If the king can travel to you on it, you can also travel toward the king on it and toward the kingdom.  Indeed the ancient practice was for the whole town to move out the gate and down the road to meet the king. (This is the same image Paul uses for the church meeting the returning Christ; in the air, yes, but in the air to accompany him to the earth.) John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness moving dirt for this highway, sin, that is.  Remove the sin and replace it with obedience stretching from here to the horizon and watch what happens.  

"There are those," says Peter, the preacher, "who say the terrain cannot be changed."   "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!"  (2 Peter 3:4)  And further, he warns, that this attitude unchanged will precipitate his coming in primordial fire we now call nuclear, the old-fashioned way of reshaping the earth.  "But by the same word the present heavens
 and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless."  (2 Peter 3:7) 

Isaiah, the preacher, in counterpoint says, "Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins."  (Isaiah 40:1-2)  Where is the comfort for Peter's warning?  "There is a fiery future alternative to nuclear," says John, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.  I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."  (Mark 1:7-8)  

Oh, but this is so slow compared with a bomb, this baptizing of people, and every day a new little sinner is born.  So also it must seem to the highway builder.  "Have we done anything today? This is going to take a thousand years, maybe two."  Highways are built by people who know where they are headed and don't give up.  "Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God..."  (2 Peter 3:11-12)

Might we hasten this meeting by building the highway toward God as God builds the highway toward us?  "Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other."  (Psalm 85:10
)


May these thoughts strengthen you. 
 
An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors 
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor 
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