The forerunner

Matthew 3:1-12 NKJV

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, [2] and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" [3] 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.'" [4] Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. [5] Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him [6] and were baptised by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. [7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, [9] and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. [10] And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [11] I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [12] His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

I've just been reading about the instructions for the Tabernacle that the Lord commanded Moses to build for the people to meet with Him in the wilderness.

It was ornate to the "nth" degree - so detailed and intricate.

This was replaced by the Temple in Jerusalem.

We see then the gradual degradation of the worship therein, as described in the Old Testament where the focus became tainted with other gods and "icabod" (the glory of the Lord has departed) was declared by the prophets.

When the glory of the Lord departs, all that's left is a building with trinkets.

So, when John the Baptist came as a forerunner, everything was stripped back. The Lord was preparing the Way for Jesus - a new and living way to relate to God.

He came in our human form - someone to talk to, to touch and to see and hear.

All the tainted worship was to be swept clean in the wilderness and in baptism.

No more tablets of stone, but the Lord's laws were to be inscribed on repentant hearts.

Today in many ways we see established churches like mortuaries of the faith, tainted and rotted with empty rituals and sharing "fellowship" with foreign gods.

Especially we see this in the Church of England, led by a multi faith king.

Those who lead are "blind guides" at best cavorting with their own ideas, making light of the Bible.

How we need men and women of faith proclaiming the Word of the Lord, preparing the Way for Jesus' Return.

No more empty ornate buildings, but men and women full of the Holy Spirit of the Risen Christ living out lives that speak the truth in love.

Amen and amen for a stripped back pure gospel to be proclaimed in this land.

Isaiah 40:3-5 NKJV

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. [4] Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; [5] The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."