Friday June 14, 2024
John 1:23
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’ ”
A remarkable expression! One crying in the wilderness. We would no doubt rather have suggested: one crying in the city, in the capital city.
But it says: in the wilderness. And that fits the situation. Has not the preaching of the gospel throughout all these centuries been a cry in the wilderness? There have always been only a few who have heard and heeded the divine call.
A cry in the wilderness! Is not this the case also with those who pause and give heed to the cry? Are not their hearts only a barren and unfruitful wilderness?
Only listen to what such persons say to themselves: What should I do? With my mind I realize that I ought to be converted. For the risk involved is great; it involves eternity. But I am worldly. And I dread the thought of having to pray to God and read the Bible every day.
Poor soul whose condition is such, this is terrible. But even worse is the fact that you once were moved to become a Christian, but would not turn to God. You postponed the whole matter indefinitely.
Now you are experiencing the consequences of this.
And the worst is that it will not end here. You will become still more indifferent. At last you will become so careless that you will not even go to hear the Word.
But what shall I do, you ask.
Well, there is not much that you can do. Only one thing. But if you would do that!
You can acknowledge before God what a wilderness your heart has become. And ask Him to cry out in the wilderness of your heart, cry out the mighty and divine Word that creates what it names.
Then you, too, will no doubt become earnestly concerned about your soul.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 