Highway of Holiness

One Year Bible (Sep. 20)

Isaiah 33:10-36:22

Highway of Holiness

Ever experienced “Road Rage” as you were driving down the highway minding your own business? It is frightening, and they say that highway shootings have tripled in the last year.

Now, this doesn’t even count cars that drive by you “flipping the state bird,” cutting you off, or screaming obscenities out the window. I am sure they are in a survey all their own…Sadly, the news reports that highway shootings have surged during the Covid pandemic. People rebel when faced with restrictions.

I encountered a very bad case of “Road Rage” today, actually. We weren’t on a normal highway. We were floating in the lazy river enjoying a “peaceful break.” Then we encountered two young ladies who had finished their jumbo-sized alcoholic drinks and were constantly vaping while floating. I had the sad opportunity to watch their decline. As my daughter and I floated, I heard them before I even floated by them. What I heard was an assortment of profanity. Every three words were filled with a splash of words that begin with consonants such as “B”, “F”, and “S”. The “F” word was used so often that everyone that went by them was taken back. It was loud and extreme!

So, we moved to the main pool… In a few minutes, our “Vaping” young women came over next to us again. The rate of their speech increased with each hour that went by. They cussed out people on the phone, in the pool, and everyone they discussed who lived on the planet. People had the most perplexed looks on their faces, and they cleared out of their way… quickly!

I can not quote them (due to their colorful interjections), but I will give you a synopsis of what I heard, “No one is going to tell me what I can or can not do!” Add about four expletives in that sentence, and that’s a wrap-up of the entire morning.

It was tragic on so many levels! So many young people die of “vaping,” and they were doing that constantly combined with alcohol for the entire time they were at the pool. I wondered how long until they would collapse or have a heart attack. They were like people ‘on speed,” racing to their demise and bringing demise to everyone they came in contact with…

They reminded me of the SIX WOES that God hates. Drunken mockery to the extreme and mean. Were they about to listen to anyone? They made it clear they would not!

However, I feel that these two would be considered “a mild case” in light of all the evil, profanity, killing, and rebellion when God’s people were warned that judgment was coming. God’s people forgot HIM in every way. They were a bad case of Road Rage headed for COLLISION, and God took his “Sheltering, Protective hands off” so that they could be disciplined in this life in time to consider ETERNITY in the next life!

In the book of Isaiah, we have heard him constantly speak judgment on God’s wayward children. Couldn’t there be another path that God could use for them besides JUDGMENT?

The answer is “Yes,” If you have been reading, you have seen his constant dealings with wayward, rebellious, raging children. They reminded me of these two hardhearted girls, only worse. Much Worse! He sent prophets, miracles, discipline, and every time they turned back to a life of DESTRUCTION.

Could a SOVEREIGN God not stop this? He certainly could! He could have taken away the free will of his creation, starting with Lucifer, who lived in a perfect heaven but wanted to be equal with God rather than honor or worship him, but that is contrary to His nature, will, and ways...

This, my friends, is the short and not sweet summary of the first half of the book of Isaiah. It is Judgement Time!

The rebellious and ungodly WILL be DISCIPLINED, and God's people will be DELIVERED! God's judgment comes from HIS Wisdom to bring repentance. (31:2)

We are now at a transition, a new road that will lead us in a new direction. Chapter 35 uses the term “Highway of Holiness.” It is not a literal highway but a description of a new road that God will be providing for his people that are HIS remnant.

There are three important things that we can learn about this new highway. You can read about this in Isaiah 35: 8-10.

First, this Highway is for the HOLY…Righteous, Redeemed, Remnant of God. The unclean will not journey on it. The wicked and foolish will not go on it.

Secondly, this Highway is a place of SAFETY.

Thirdly, this HIGHWAY is a place of JOY.

Help is on the way… The LORD himself will make a HIGHWAY of HOLINESS.

“The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD make straight in the desert a HIGHWAY for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3)