Sent Ahead
Imagine if we all saw ourselves as John saw himself, one preparing the way.
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing. - John 1:19-28
I like to think I am the one who will make a difference, and not think I am here to blaze the path for someone greater to come along after me.
That is my ego talking.
I know I am not alone in thinking that, but there are those who see themselves the way John saw himself, as a preparer of the way for another who will do far greater things than he.
Maybe that is how we should all think of ourselves.
It is humbling to think that what we are here to accomplish in this world is just the preamble to something much greater.
Someone will come along and build on the foundation we have laid, and that person's building will be the foundation for an even greater structure to follow.
If each of us is sent to pave the way for those who follow, our best efforts and accomplishments are like those of the olympic gold medalists of the past who set the bar higher for those to follow.
John knew his role. He was prepared to hand over to Jesus all that he had done, so Jesus could begin his ministry with a flock.
There will come a point for each of us when it is time to pass on our work to someone who will continue. If we keep that in mind, holding the ones who follow in higher regard than ourselves, there is no end to what can be accomplished through our efforts.
More to come...