Isa 35:8

Isa 35:8  And an 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.  Isaiah 35 paints a beautiful picture of a glorious future. The desert shall rejoice and it shall blossom in abundance (v.1-2). Obviously, the words must be understood figuratively. From the rest of the message, the events fit the time of the Messiah. The physical weak and the fearful shall become strong (v.3-4), the blind shall see and the deaf hear (v.5), the lame walk and the dumb speak (v.6), and the dry land filled with water again (v.7). A highway for the redeemed called the Highway of Holiness shall be established (v.8-9). The ransomed of the LORD shall return to Zion with songs (v.10). When did those events happen? They happened at the Lord’s coming on this earth. Our Lord performed those wonderful miracles that caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf hear and the dumb speak. He is the Highway of Holiness that was spoken by Isaiah and which John the Baptist came to prepare (Luke 3:4). Christians are the redeemed, the people whom Christ has paid the ransom, that have come to Zion: “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,” (Hebrews 12:22). The most significant part of this prophecy is this: “And an 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” (v.8). What is so special about this Highway of Holiness? 1. It is for those who are holy: “the unclean shall not pass over it”. The term “holy” means consecration. It denotes being different from the worldly, sinful standards which are all around us. Christians must aim to live holy and godly lives (Titus 2:11, 12). The Scripture warns that anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). It implies no entry to heaven for one who is unholy. No one has ever been admitted to heaven in his sins. Period! 2. The Highway of Holiness shall belong to “those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray” (v.8b, ESV). It means that the way of salvation will be so easy to understand, that no one, however ignorant and unlearned, will err in regard to it. Since salvation of men is so important to God that He had to send His only begotten Son to die so that men can have eternal life in heaven, do you think God will make it difficult for men to find the way? Do you think He will put it in figurative language, or in the form of a riddle for men to guess the way to go to heaven? One thing we learn in hermeneutics is this: “THE MAIN THINGS ARE THE PLAIN THINGS, AND THE PLAIN THINGS ARE THE MAIN THINGS.” What is important to men, God will put it in plain language. Can you get any plainer: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). You need help from the devil to misinterpret it. 3. The highway of holiness is a place of safety, reserved for the redeemed of the Lord (v.9). Our Lord says: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Only the redeemed are on the road to heaven. 4. The highway of holiness will be a place of joy (v.10). Isaiah says they “come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads.” Are you joyful in the Lord (Philippians 4:4). Are you on this Highway of Holiness? Only the redeemed are on this road to heaven. Have you been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ? (1 Peter 1:18, 19).