John, the son of Zechariah! Who is this?

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!!
   Yesterday I mentioned Herod the Great wanted Jesus, an infant, killed.  Now, in Matthew 3 we have a man, John, the son of Zechariah.  Who?  This is the man we refer to as John the baptist.  Who was this man?  He dressed funny and had a strange diet.
    John the baptist was a forerunner of Jesus, the Messiah, proclaiming him to come.  John, in today's world would be like a hollywood star or great athlete; it seemed people from all over knew of him.  He had followers everywhere. He was famous and people listened to him. This is not a bad thing, it is good.  John had disciples who followed him.  So, What is he doing?
   When a dignitary plans to come in a city what happens?  The security staff goes before him/her and makes way, ensuring all is ready for his/her arrival.  This was John the baptist; he went ahead of Jesus, proclaiming, "Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  Some thought he was Elijah reincarnated.  Oops, can't be-- as Elijah never died, he was taken into the heavens in a whirlwind. Well, then, who was he?
   Well, the Pharisees and Sadducees came to watch him baptize, and with political correctness  John said to them:  "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: be he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
    John's message was clear, very clear to the Pharisees and Sadducees and all around.  He told them to change their behavior; show their true character, not just a front.  Just as a fruit tree produces its fruit that is good--we as God's people should produce good fruit.
   God's message in the Old Testament and New Testament is the same:  People will be judged for their productive or unproductive lives.  God wants us to be active in our life, living for Christ.  Are you productive for Chirst?  John baptized people as a sign that they had asked God to forgive their sins and to live as God wanted them to live.  The fan in verse 12 is a pitchfork with which they separate the grain from the chaff.  This is where we have to choose to either be the grain - productive; or the chaff-unproductive and to be burned in the fire.  Hmmm!  Not much of a choice.
   Okay, back to who was John!   He came, as the security detail, preparing the way for Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Emmanual.  Are you walking as John, helping to prepare the way for the future to come?  Yes, we are the forerunners of Christ's return!!!  Think about this over the weekend. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
    Johnny