Isaiah 35:8-10 – On the highway of holiness

In earlier verses, Isaiah prodded those who were insightful and could grasp the implication of his prophecies to encourage those who felt dejected, affected, and anxious. This is one assignment we mature Christians need to take heed. We must learn to seize all available opportunities to encourage and restore the weak and fainthearted. We can trust the work of the Lord Jesus, the God-sent Messiah. He provides not only physical healing but also spiritual strengthening. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us.

Here in the last three verses of Isaiah 35, Isaiah poetically described how our transforming journey with Christ our Redeemer looks like. Firstly, it is a  journey on the highway of holiness. It is a way defined for people who have been cleansed and set to live a regenerated life. Secondly, it is a plain and uncomplicated journey. According to the last line of verse 8, “Fools will not wander on it.” Here Isaiah was not referring to Psalm 14’s definition of a fool, where the Psalmist defines a fool as a person who claims in his heart that there is no God. The “fools” Isaiah referred to here is better taken to mean people who are simple-minded. In other words, this highway is so plain and straightforward that even the simple-minded could understand and not stray within it. Then in saying that no lion would be there, the prophet suggests that thirdly, this journey is a safe one. Fourthly, this journey would be a liberated one. The people who travel on it are the redeemed who are walking free from the incumbents of their bondages. Fifthly, it is a journey that has a definite destination, which is Mount Zion, the city of God, the city of Christ our great King. Sixthly, it would be a joyful journey where the redeemed will travel to their eternal home, rejoicing and singing with everlasting joy.   

 

The spiritual journey with Christ is an awesome one. Beloved, we are traveling on the highway of holiness. Christ has qualified us for this journey. He has set us apart and made us righteous before God by His works on calvary. Besides, we are traveling on an uncomplicated journey. The direction from the Word of God is plain and uncomplicated. We will not meander off the straight and narrow way when we follow the clear instructions of His Word. Then the journey we are taking is a safe one. For we are guarded and protected by God’s own love. And wonderfully, as redeemed of the Lord, our journey is a bondage free one. So stay free in the liberty where Christ has set us free and not submit to the yoke of tradition and man-made rules. Remember we are heading for the everlasting city of God. As we do let us heed Paul’s call to rejoice, no matter how tough the journey. Remember the joy of the Lord is our strength. There is no better journey than this journey, so stay on track and don’t look back!