Traveling on the Holy Way

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Scripture:

Is. 35:8      ¶ A highway shall be there,
        and it shall be called the Holy Way;
    the unclean shall not travel on it,
        but it shall be for God’s people;
        no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
Is. 35:9     No lion shall be there,
        nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
    they shall not be found there,
        but the redeemed shall walk there.
Is. 35:10     And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
        and come to Zion with singing;
    everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
        they shall obtain joy and gladness,
        and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Observation:

Isaiah presents a vision for the future, one in which a new pathway will exist for all of humanity, a highway known as “the Holy Way.”  We recognize that Jesus came and provided that pathway by his incarnation.  Assuming human flesh Jesus sanctifies humanity creating the way of holiness and making it possible for all of humanity to be made holy.  Only those who are willing to follow him onto the pathway will be able to travel there, hence the “unclean” will not be found there.  It is the place where God’s people will be following in the footsteps of Jesus and as long as our eyes are kept on him, the goal, he will lead us and keep us on the path. 

As long as God’s people remain on the Holy Way, continuing their spiritual growth and formation, keeping their eyes on Jesus who is the goal, no spiritual lion or ravenous beast will be able to attack them or pull them from their spiritual destination.  Those who remain on the Holy Way will be heading back to the promised land, back to Zion, to the place where we will live eternally with our God.  Those traveling on the Holy Way will be filled with such joy that they will burst forth with singing before our Lord, being filled with “Joy and gladness.” 

The sadness of the world becomes overshadowed by our love for him the closer we get to our precious Lord while traveling on the Holy Way.

Application:

Too often we think of the Holy Way as something optional for a follower of Jesus Christ.  Think about that sentence for a minute!  Jesus came and created the Holy Way — and it is the way in which we are to follow him.  Holiness is not an option.  There is no way to follow Jesus, if it’s not on the Holy Way, because the Holy Way IS his way!  To follow Jesus means that we are willing to travel on his highway, the Holy Way and only by doing so will we be able to reach the goal, Jesus, himself.

The Christian life is to be one of a journey, one that is continuous and on-going throughout our entire lives.  There will be crisis moments along the journey but there must be a realization that the journey can never end.  The moment we sit down spiritually, or pull over to the side of the road, we are in danger of falling off the road and never reaching our destination.  We must keep our eyes on Jesus who is waiting for us at the end of the Holy Way, inviting us into his eternal presence in Zion. 

Today and every day I must intentionally remain on the Holy Way.  Jesus as the goal for my life must always keep me and draw me to the pathway which he has laid before me.  I’m not on the pathway because of a set of rules that I follow, but I’m on the pathway because I want to be with Jesus.  Along the journey he transforms me into his image, his holy image. 

We need to be inviting others onto the Holy Way, to join us in this incredible journey of Christ-likeness.  Where else would we rather travel, than to travel on the highway that Jesus has prepared for us, the one that leads us to our beloved.  Put aside everything that may weigh you down for the journey and continue persevering in your faith, reaching forward toward the goal of Jesus!

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for all you have done and continue to do for your people.  Please, help us to turn toward you and trust in you daily.  Amen.

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