HOT TOPIC: ARE YOU ON THE HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN?
  
Isaiah 35:8-10

"God's Highway - The Way of Holiness"

God has a highway.
  

God has a highway to heaven.  It is a high and holy way.  It is called the "Way of Holiness" (v.8).  It is a way of light.  In contrast, those without Christ are in spiritual darkness.  This way of holiness is only for those who are believers in Christ.  Only Christ can free them from the power of sin. 
 

A person who comes to Christ is a new creation.  He runs in the pathway of God's commands (Romans 6).  This is not perfection, but there will be holiness of life because the Spirit of God inhabits this person.
 

This is a straight and narrow way (v.8).  The unconverted have no desire for this way so they are not in this way of holiness.  In contrast, the Christian loves Christ (Romans 8).  God predestined the Christian to walk in righteousness.  The Christian's heart wants to be pure like God is pure.

You are on a highway!
   

Everyone is on a highway; either the way to heaven or the way to hell.  Jesus Christ speaks of this narrow way (Matthew 7).  You must enter this narrow way.  It is not enough to merely admire Jesus, you must follow Him.
 

This highway is plain and clearly marked.  Even fools will clearly see this way (Isaiah 35:8) because it is so clear.  This way is easily accessible.  It is Jesus Christ who is plainly visible.  He is the way.
 

So why do people not go on this way?  They reject the Gospel (1Cor.2) and consider it foolish.  They go their own way.  God says He will make the way plain and He will open the eyes of the spiritually blind along this highway of salvation.
 

We are like blind people, but God is able to lead us.  God is our Great Guide.  He will bring us home to glory.  Through Jesus Christ this highway is plain and clear.

This is a secure highway
    

It is a safe and secure way (Isaiah 35:9).  God will keep them safe.  The most dangerous of beasts, the lion, will not harm God's people.  In contrast, the way of the wicked is a highway filled with desolation and danger (Isaiah 34).  Jesus said we do not need to fear because He has overcome the world.  He will keep the Christian safe.
 

The unconverted are vulnerable.  They are subject to their own desires.  His enemies will destroy him.  His way is filled with destroyers of his soul. 
  

Think of the image in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.  Christian walks on the pathway and the lions roar at him, but he is kept safe.  The lions are fearsome, but by God's will they are chained so they cannot harm the pilgrim.  The Angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him.

This is a highway of joy.
 

This highway is a joyful way (Isaiah 35:10).  Believers are characterized as singing Psalms of joy.  They praise God.  The ransomed of the Lord love to sing about God.  They sing with joy.  They delight in God.  The Christian has a song of praise in his heart.  Paul says Christians should rejoice always, even in the midst of sorrow.  The believer has a joy that the unbeliever cannot know.
  

The Christian will be with Christ throughout eternity and this will produce joy.  This highway ends in the New Jerusalem.  Only "Zion's Children" know this solid and lasting joy.  The New Jerusalem will be the place of everlasting joy.  Pilgrims have this to look forward to as they travel this highway.
  

"Are we hapless victims of life's whims? Are we driven along by some blind and impersonal force? Are we battered by circumstances beyond all control? A thousand times no! Instead, we are objects of God's providential care. We reside under His guiding and protecting hand. It's an amazing and comforting fact that God rules and overrules in the circumstances of life. He is neither a capricious nor a vindictive authority. Quite the contrary. God works through the circumstances of life to bring about something miraculous, something abundantly good, even out of what we perceive to be our darkest moments." (Alistair Begg, "The Hand of God")
 

These notes were prepared by C. Kenneth Shannon, based on a sermon preached by Pastor Craig Harris on March 20, 2011,

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