The Way of Holiness
Isaiah 35:8 “And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”
“Holiness” in scripture is defined two ways;….when it speaks of God, it means His sinlessness, and His perfection of Goodness.
When it speaks of us (Romans 12:1, Hebrews 12:14), it speaks of scantificaltion….setting ourselves aside to Him, for His use.
The Lord gave my husband this verse years ago,….stressing his messages….that if he preached it….He would give understanding to those who would to hear it.
A highway is a road built up and maintained….so that those that come out of the fields and byways….and get on it,…..will see the sign posts and know how to go to their destination.
This “way of holiness”,……is also called “the Way of the Holy One”. For it is the Lord’s way, that will lead us back into a right relationship with God.
But here, is an announcement of “a way”, “a Way of Holiness”. (Trumpets! should be blown here)
But who can travel on this way?
It says “the unclean shall not pass over it”….
….but, doesn’t that include us, and everyone?
Yes, for we are all as an unclean thing.
Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
So if we are all unclean, how can we travel on this highway?
Only by seeking cleansing, from the One Who maintains this Holy Way.
We can be cleansed by the precious blood of Christ:
Zech 13:1 “In that day there shall be a fountain open to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanliness.”
Eph. 5:25-26 “…..as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;
That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.”
1 Peter 1:18-19 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
But by the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb with out blemish and without spot.”
1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
And what about those, who come, hear God’s gospel and travel on their way?
Well, the Lord says, even if they are fools (those men who reguard not God or His government)…..they will not be able to mistake, or misunderstand…..the call of Christ.
They will understand the simple gospel message.
They will understand God’s claims on their lives……whether they yield to “this Way”, or not.
They will not be able to say….”we did not know”…..”we did not understand”
God’s claims are:
Come unto Me, Look and be saved, Believe on Me, Follow Me, Call upon Me.
“Come unto Me”…..
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto Me, O ye that labor and are heavy ladened, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
“Look and be saved”…..
Isaiah 45:22 “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”
“Believe on Me”…..
John 6:47 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.”
“Follow Me”…
Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
“Call upon Me”….
Acts 2:21 “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans 10:9-10, 13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This Holy Way, this “highway” is clearly marked out…..and it is open to all who will hear the gospel message, believe it, and receive the Lord Jesus Christ into their lives, as Lord and Savior.
On this Way of Holiness,…..we have company……”the redeemed shall walk there:” (Isaiah 35:9)
And One other goes with us:
Luke 24:13, 15 “And, behold, two of them went the same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
And it came to pass, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them.”
These two believers were blessed on that road to Emmaus, with the company of the resurrected Lord of glory….Jesus Christ.
But so are we, who travel that Way of Holiness, to heaven. Jesus comes with us…..never leaving, nor forsaking us…..but with His Word, guiding us in this way of peace.