Read: Isaiah 35:1-10
“And a highway will be there; it will
be called the Way of Holiness; it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not
even fools, shall go astray” (Isa. 35:8)
Can you believe Christmas is almost here?
Last weekend Pat and I went to the mall. While there I heard some young people
walking around cheerfully chanting, “SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP! SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP!” I
don't know what got into me, I guess it was the preacher in me. But all I could
think of what about those who don't have the funds to shop....what about those
who have lost a loved one and can't seem to get motivated to shop...what about
those who have gone through a terrible divorce...what about the lonely residents
in care home or those who are home bound?
“SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP!” Isn't something
those who are in a wilderness want to hear. Some don't even want to get out of
the house much less go to a mall and hear “SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP!” What they want
to hear is, WHAT IS THE WAY OUT...how do I get out of this mess?
When one is in a wilderness time we can
even feel abandoned by God.
For all those who are lonely, frustrated,
anxious, and bewildered by the wildernesses in their lives, they don't want to
hear “SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP!” But what they and us need to hear is:
GOD CHANGES THE WILDERNESS IN OUR LIVES BY
REVEALING
HIS PRESENCE TO US ….AND BY CHANGING THE
WAY WE SEE
THE WILDERNESS.
It is a pool of water in the desert; it is
the blossom on the desert cactus; it is the way, the truth, and the life. It's
what really makes it a Merry Christmas...NOT SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP.
For in Christ, we travel God's Holy Way
through any wilderness journey! Christ has come! Christ is coming! Christ will
come again!
