Journey to Salvation: A Tangible Hope
When someone important is coming to visit, we prepare. We clean up. We put things back where they belong. We clear a path. We want everything ready to receive them.
In this Advent message, Rich Dennison invites us to consider what it truly means to prepare—not for a guest in our home, but for the presence of God in our lives. Journey to Salvation: A Tangible Hope calls us to move beyond wishful thinking and into a lived, active hope rooted in repentance, humility, justice, and faith. As we prepare the way of the Lord, we are reminded that God brings new life even from what appears dead—and that Christ is still coming to meet us.
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Prepare the Way of the Lord
What are some special things you might do if an important person was coming to visit you? We prepare, of course. We clean up. We organize. We clear the clutter. We make a clear path—maybe even roll out the red carpet.
On this second Sunday of Advent, we are preparing. But what exactly are we preparing for?
We are preparing for God’s presence here on earth. Not wishful thinking. Not distant hope. But a tangible hope—a concrete reality. It is time to prepare the way of the Lord, both externally and internally, making our lives ready for Christ’s coming.
The Promise of a Savior
Isaiah 11:1–10
1 Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 He will delight in obeying the Lord.
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
4 He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
5 He will wear righteousness like a belt
and truth like an undergarment.6 In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;
the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion,
and a little child will lead them all.
7 The cow will graze near the bear.
The cub and the calf will lie down together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
8 The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
9 Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,
for as the waters fill the sea,
so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.
10 In that day the heir to David’s throne
will be a banner of salvation to all the world.
The nations will rally to him,
and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.
Isaiah speaks humbly as he proclaims these promises. He tells us to look at the ground—because where else would you find a stump? Something presumed dead. Cut down. Finished.
And yet, impossibly, bursting with new life.
Isaiah reminds us that the ground beneath our feet is not ordinary ground—it is God’s holy mountain. A place of peace and justice, dependent on the coming of a leader from David’s line. This leader does not rule with human weakness or flawed judgment. The very Spirit of God rests upon him—wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord.
This is a prophecy about the Messiah—the anointed Savior.
Under his reign, justice is real. The poor are lifted up. Oppression has no place. Even creation itself is restored to peace. This is why hope is reasonable. This is why hope is tangible.
The Voice in the Wilderness
Matthew 3:1–3
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
Matthew connects Isaiah’s prophecy to a man named John the Baptist—the voice preparing the way for the King. John’s role was not to be the Savior, but to prepare the people for His arrival.
Before John was even born, his mission was declared.
Luke 1:13–17
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,
15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord…
16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
After John’s birth, his father Zechariah prophesied again.
Luke 1:76–77
76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins.
John himself would later say:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord.”
The Savior was stepping onto the world stage.
A Call to Repentance
Matthew 3:11–12
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
So how do we prepare the way for the Lord today?
It is a spiritual construction project.
Before anything new can be built, the old must come down. Sometimes forcefully. Sometimes painfully. Repentance and confession clear the ground. They make the path straight.
Preparing for Christ involves both internal transformation and external action:
- Our hearts and minds must align with God
- Our actions and lifestyles must reflect that alignment
This preparation is not a one-time event. It is a lifelong commitment requiring diligence, humility, and active faith.
How We Prepare the Way
- Acknowledge and confess our sins
Be honest. Clear the path. - Practice humility
Turn from pride and worldly approval toward God’s justice. - Embrace justice and charity
Remember: mankind was our business. - Cleanse your life
Remove what harms and hinders your walk with Christ. - Engage in spiritual practices
Prayer. Scripture. Worship. Faith lived out daily.
A Prayer of Salvation
Heavenly Father,
I come to You in the name of Your Son, Jesus.
I confess that I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sins and the life I’ve lived.
Please forgive me.
I believe Jesus died for me, and I am willing to turn from my sin.
I confess Jesus as Lord and accept Him as my Savior.
Help me, God, to become more like Jesus each and every day.
Amen.
This is a journey. The construction isn’t finished yet. But God is faithful—and hope is real.
