“Last Saturday,” I said to Stan one morning, “I decided to drive over to Cedar Creek to visit with a friend I hadn’t seen for a long time.”
“How was that?” Stan asked.
“Didn’t make it,” I said. “I made a crucial error that caused all sorts of problems.”
“What happened?”
“Rather than taking the new highway that goes through Junction City,” I replied, “I decided to take the old road that goes up over Weston Mountain. Bad choice. Ever since the new highway opened, there has been little or no maintenance to the old road. It’s pretty rough with lots of potholes. I ended up with two flat tires and needed a tow truck.”
“By the time I got towed back to Ted’s Tire Store and got the tires fixed,” I continued, “it was too late to get to Cedar Creek. Next time I’m going to take the new highway.”
“Not unlike our faith walks,” Stan responded.
“How so?” I asked.
“God’s highway of holiness,” he said. “Traveling on that highway is a whole lot better than an old road full of potholes!”
“Highway of holiness? What’s that?”
“The Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament mentions it,” Stan replied. “Jesus talked about it and several of the New Testament writers cover it as well. It has to do with the choices I make in following the path God has for me to use.”
“Following God’s path, versus some other path?”
“That’s it,” Stan replied. “Choosing God’s way on His highway of holiness, rather than my way on the road of self, the world, the flesh, and the devil.”
“Makes sense,” I said. “Sounds kind of like the steps of discipleship.”
“How so?” Stan asked.
“Well,” I replied, “Denying self could be seen as the part about not taking the old road. Taking up what God has for me to take up is like going on God’s highway, and, of course, the follow part of discipleship is staying on that highway to wherever it leads. Maybe we should call it the ‘Highway of Discipleship’!”
“Sounds good to me,” Stan said with a smile.
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Bible verses to consider:
And 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. Isaiah 35:8.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. John 14:6.
Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. Matthew 7:13-14.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus as the way to you. Thank you for those who brought me to the truth so I can look forward to spending eternity in your presence when it’s time, along with the eternal life of knowing you and Jesus in an ever-deepening personal relationship before then. I confess that too often I do not choose to travel your highway of holiness, but I choose a different road that takes me away from you. Please forgive that foolishness. Please help me in following every step of your lead to travel your highway of holiness exactly as you intend. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Jesus called Himself the “Way.” What does that mean to you? Have you accepted the way to the Father so you have the assurance of spending eternity with Him when it’s time? If no, why? If you do have the assurance of salvation, how are you doing with traveling God’s highway of holiness on this side of eternity? If you sense there should be changes in your life in that regard, how are those changes going to occur? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 