I faced a dilemma a few weeks ago. It was a crazy-busy Sunday in the height of the summer season on the Outer Banks. A nation-wide worker shortage is adversely affecting the restaurant business, and wait times of up to two and a half hours for a table are not unheard of, especially for Sunday brunch. We were blessed to have our District Superintendent visit us for worship, but that left us with a problem of where to take him for lunch afterward. Lo and behold, one of my favorite restaurant offers reservations. Bliss!

Can you imagine the incredible work and preparation that goes into running a restaurant? From ordering supplies, hiring and scheduling workers, designing menus, ensuring that equipment and ingredients are prepared and ready to go everyday….it boggles the mind.

Now think about what happens when a restaurant, a business, a surgery, a classroom, or even a short trip happens without proper planning. It can spell disaster in a hurry.

When God sent out those who would be prophets, he was preparing the people for things to come. God was hoping to guarantee their success by being specific with the words the prophets were to proclaim on his behalf. It must have been a terrible calling, especially for the Old Testament prophets who were instructed to warn their people of the coming wrath and judgment.

But when John the Baptistizer was called to be a prophet, his message was “repent, for the kingdom is at hand.” He was to serve as a preparer of the way, making things ready for Jesus to come. Jesus himself affirmed John’s ministry:

Luke 7:24-35 (Common English Bible)

²⁴ After John’s messengers were gone, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A stalk blowing in the wind?²⁵ What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in refined clothes? Look, those who dress in fashionable clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces.²⁶ What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ He is the one of whom it’s written: Look, I’m sending my messenger before you, who will prepare your way before you.

Everything takes preparation, even a good messiahship. John was the “back of house” fellow who labored in the kitchen, chopping and prepping the mis en place so that when the real deal came, the table had already been set.

²⁸ I tell you that no greater human being has ever been born than John. Yet whoever is least in God’s kingdom is greater than he.”²⁹ Everyone who heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice because they had been baptized by John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and legal experts rejected God’s will for themselves because they hadn’t been baptized by John.

Those who were humble and received John’s baptism were prepared for a place in the kingdom that would be even higher than his. But the arrogant, prideful ones who rejected John’s baptism would pay the price for their haughtiness. There are consequences for rejecting God.

Are you prepared? Do you know where you will spend eternity? Are you prepared to answer for your life? Are you ready to teach the next generation about the kingdom of God?

Is it time to repent?

Make ready, for the day of the Lord is at hand.