Preparing The Way

Malachi 3-4:4

In the 80's and 90's of the 20th century, Connie and I often spoke to youth together. She has this profile of characters, which she can call up from within at the drop of a dime. Very meaningful and fitting for modernizing the points of Scripture. Very much a home run in speaking to the youth of the day. In fact, the inner child of most adults would come to life, when she spoke. Her characters became hits for our evangelizing discourse.

Her characters are designed to reach into the heart and soul of the hearers. She would bring them forth to drive home the point of my homily on Scripture or some times prepare the way for my sermon. We decided who was to prepare the way through praying together, and trusting the spiritual response in both of us. Interesting how God intervened, in that, after time in prayer we would be on one accord as to who should prepare the way, and who would bring the point to the cross.

In most instances, she would point out the discouraging, disappointing, and damaging matters of growing up in changing times. Issues of molestation, parental abuse, peer pressure, etc. While I sought to issue a call to come to Jesus, who has been waiting for you to come as you are. We both viewed our purpose as being the same: "PREPARING THE WAY" for a life with Christ.

A few years ago, I decided that we would not tag team again. It was not a call from God or our praying together, but a decision of my own to encourage the full expression of the validity of our mission. There was no justification in it. It was more of a Nike - "Just Do It!", then a God - "Come to Jesus!" "Then where," as you should ask, "is the validity of the mission in that decision?"

The validity of the Christian mission is not to be found in such human decision. It should always be known by the decision that God made, and we should follow every step of the way. It is the decision that men and women, boys and girls, are to be made disciples of Christ, and baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Salvation is about coming to Christ. Salvation has nothing to do with having our way, because God is not Burger King, but Jesus is the Prince of peace. Our mission? No, it is the Christian mission that guides the moments in existential proclamation of the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever.

My decision has not stopped the power of hope in the characters given Connie, and shall not hinder the faith-sharing within me. We march forth as Christian soldiers not by my order. No, no. We press on toward the mark of the higher calling, because we have always done it for one reason alone - we are "preparing the way" for coming to Jesus Christ, the only Savior.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, here we are, save us! Amen.