The Highway of Holiness

“A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness.” Isaiah 35:8

If there is one thing I know about, it is highways. I travel daily as a consultant and coach for schools all over the great state of Alabama. I65, Highway 43, Highway 72 and many others are all to familiar to me.

But I don’t think I have ever come across a highway called “Holiness”, that is, not until Bro. John Powell pointed it out to me during a sermon he recently preached at Underwood Baptist.

Isaiah 35:8 describes the “Highway of Holiness” in great detail.  The whole chapter points to the restoration of Israel after being taken captive by her enemies. The prophet foretells of amazing things that will happen as Zion is restored…deserts will bloom, people will be healed, waters will break forth in dry places.

And then…”a highway will be there”. In Hebrew, the word for highway is maslul, derived from salal. It is describing a roadway that is literally raised up. In ancient days, this would have been an absolutely amazing engineering feat and a treat for travelers.

Talk about the road less traveled…that would be the Highway of Holiness!

Although the Highway of Holiness is clearly marked, there will be some who will not travel it according to scripture. The unclean nor the fools will get on this highway. Only the ones who want a restored relationship to the LORD, the ransomed ones, exit onto the Holy Highway. Didn’t Jesus also tell us the way to life is narrow and only a few find it in Matthew 7:14?

The same is true today…when a person accepts Christ, He puts us on this Highway. A restored relationship with God can only be achieved through Jesus Christ. He paid our ransom…

“…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28″

Jesus, in fact, is the elevated highway bridging the widest gap of all…the sin-gap. Romans 3:23 tells us we all fall short (literally missing the mark) of God’s glory. There is no way we can jump that chasm in our own power and make it to the other side. You may be able to jump farther than me, but we all still fall short and land in the gap.

We needed a way, a highway, to bridge the gap. Jesus proclaimed, “I am the WAY, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” John  14:6

So what about friends…are you still searching for that highway? Isaiah says those who travel the Highway of Holiness find “gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).  Now that sounds like a great route to me!