Thought from today’s Bible reading from Isaiah 35-36.
“A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it. No lion will be there, nor will any vicious beast go up on it; these will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there…” (Isaiah 35:8-9).
This analogy of a highway for the redeemed is in some ways similar to the analogy used by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount:
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
The path that leads to life, or the Highway of Holiness, is not for everyone. Isaiah says it is for the redeemed. Jesus says the number who travel this way will be few.
Isaiah, in his analogy, emphasizes the fact that one enjoys divine protection as long as he continues on this path (“no lion will be there“). Peter alludes to this divine protection as well: “Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?” (1 Peter 3:13).
However, it is important to note that once one is on the right path, he must remain on the right path. Isaiah says, “The unclean will not travel on it,” meaning we must remain clean and righteous. He also says, “Fools will not wander on it,” which tells us that we must walk in wisdom if we wish to stay on the Highway of Holiness. We are told that we must “be faithful until death” if we hope to receive “the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
If you are not on the path that leads to life, you need to follow God’s instructions to get on the path.
If you are on the right path, you must be diligent to remain on the path and not fall away.
Tomorrow’s reading: Isaiah 37-39; Psalm 76
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
Daily Notes & Observations contains all 365 articles from this series and is available in paperback from Gospel Armory.
