Isaiah Chapter 35 - The Highway of Holiness

Isaiah Chapter 35 - The Highway of Holiness

You want to know something that most of us take for granted? Roads. We use them every day, but do we really understand the huge role they play in our life? To be able to jump in a vehicle and safely (more or less!) travel from point A to point B is a huge blessing. Just spend some time in a third-world country where the few roads that exist rough and full of potholes and you'll appreciate our road system!

Roadways were the lifeblood of Ancient Rome. Over the course of 700 years, the Romans built more than 55,000 miles of paved highways throughout Europe—enough to encircle the globe. Wherever a road was built near a town, that town would experience a huge increase in wealth, culture, and importance.

Isaiah chapter 35 tells us that in the Millennial Kingdom there will be a major road - the Highway of Holiness:

A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; it shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:8-10)

This road will be a hallmark of the Millennial Kingdom - probably leading into the city of David, where the bible says kings will bring their glory into it:

By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, (Revelation 21:24)

And as with all aspects of the Kingdom of God, there is not only a future reality, there is also a present reality of this Highway of Holiness that we have through Christ. Consider the similarities:

"The unclean shall not pass over it" - The Christian has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:14), and we now have access to God (Ephesians 2:18)

"Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray" - Through the word of God and the Holy Spirit, we have instruction on how to live in wisdom (2 Timothy 3:16)

"No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it" - The Christian is protected from evil by the Lord, who will bring us safely into His kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18)

"They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" - The Christian is filled with joy and peace, overflowing with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13)

While His work in our lives may not yet be completed, when we stay on the Highway of the Lord, we are on our way to the perfect fulfillment of creation through Christ. And when our Lord and Savior establishes His kingdom, we will "come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads."

"Engineering has done much to tunnel mountains, and bridge abysses; but the greatest triumph of engineering is that which made a way from sin to holiness, from death to life, from condemnation to perfection. Who could make a road over the mountains of our iniquities but Almighty God? None but the Lord of love would have wished it; none but the God of wisdom could have devised it; none but the God of power could have carried it out." (Spurgeon)

Pastor Clay

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