Preparing for Life's Journeys: Lessons from Africa and Dubai

Our family recently returned from a trip to Africa with a stop in Dubai along the way.

We are blessed in many ways, but one blessing that stands out to me is that of my wife and all the research she did.

She researched things like what type of bug spray could help ward off the dangerous malaria-bearing mosquitoes but not harm us at the same time, where to obtain the metro pass in Dubai (as well as how to use it), what documents are necessary to enter Kenya these days, and the best neck pillow, etc.

Maybe you’re a person who takes a relaxed approach and avoids research, figuring out life as it comes.

Sometimes, intense preparation is necessary or you might be stuck at an airport without proper papers, or you might be getting a new kidney (as happened to one man we met who failed to prepare for the mosquito situation and suffered serious complications from a medication during his hospitalization due to malaria which resulted in a kidney transplant!).

In the Gospel of Matthew, we are introduced to a character named John the Baptist (chapter 3).

He was tasked with stirring people to prepare for something very important – something that would have life or death consequences, depending on how a person reacted when it happened.

It was the arrival of the Messiah on earth. God exists in three persons, each of which are equally God and eternal and who each share the same essence.

God the Son took to Himself human nature and entered the world through the womb of a virgin named Mary.

He wasn’t coming here to vacation or do research. He took to Himself our nature so that He could redeem it.

That sentence is easy to read, but executing that plan would be a heavy task, a task only the unique God-man could accomplish.

He had to remain sinless, and be infinite God so that when He paid the penalty for His people the quality of His sacrifice would cover the offense against infinite, divine majesty.

At the same time, He had to be truly human so that He could stand in the place of sinners like us.

There was only ever one Person who was able to save sinners because there was only ever one sinless God-man filled with love and willing to pay a debt He did not owe.

So to miss Christ is to miss our only opportunity to be reconciled to God and to be satisfied in His presence forever.

How did John the Baptist stir the people to prepare? With these words: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Repentance is not just remorse. It is confessing to

God our helplessness to rid ourselves of sin, our grief at our corrupt condition, and our need for Him to help us. True repentance is a change – a turning in a new direction as God gives grace. Would you be prepared to meet the Messiah in person?

Editor’s Note: Joel Kletzing is the Pastor at Christ Church in Roaring Spring. He is our new columnist for the faith page.