There is a Highway Option

There is a popular saying that has been around for years. How many have ever been told, “It’s my way or the highway” and, almost as quickly as that statement is out there, it is recanted by “Oh, wait, there is no highway option”. Tonight I want to remind the church, there is a highway option.

We can take a look around the world and say, “We don’t like where this thing is headed” but, the truth is the world is headed just where God has ordained from the beginning that it should go. He did not consult with me for my opinion on the matter. He in His power and authority has allowed everything throughout history to lead us to this point.  The question is where is the church going? The world is going its own way, but where is the church going?

For too long now, the church has followed along in lock step with the philosophies, actions and attitudes of the world. When the direction we should choose is 180 degrees the other way.

1 John 2:15-16 “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” (NLT)

I hope no one is in a hurry this evening because as God unfolded this message before me, I quickly realized it was too much for a one hour study. In my estimation we many begin to have a good grasp of the concepts after about thirteen weeks.  Tonight I will attempt to give you just the overview and get us all home at a reasonable hour, but I’m not making any promises.

As I said a moment ago, this world is traveling the course God has mapped out for it. What we are seeing around the world, the failure of economic systems, increased storms, vast amounts of people blindly following anyone promising to fulfill their desire, it’s all in the Bible. God said it’s all going to happen. Regardless of how you voted or who is in the white house, what we are seeing around us are all signs of the times.

2 Corinthians 4:4-6 “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” (NIV)

There is a highway option – It’s mapped out in the Bible!

•      66 books

•      Old Testament

•      New Testament

•      40 Different authors

•      At least 3 different languages

•      1600 years in its construction

•      One Holy Spirit

We will be taking a look at the highway God is offering to us. On this highway we will come face to face with responsibilities. We will be warned about the wrath to come. We will be comforted by God’s promises and we will recognize the benefits of traveling the highway of holiness.

Isaiah 35:3-10 “Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, ‘Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah. The scorched land will become a pool And the thirsty ground springs of water; In the haunt of jackals, its resting place, Grass becomes reeds and rushes. 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. No lion will be there, Nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there, And the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.” (NASB)

Truths for Travelers – There are two responsibilities, one warning, two promises, the identification of the highway and its travelers mentioned in this passage from Isaiah. The way I see it, they break down as follows:

•      Encourage the exhausted – One of the responsibilities given to believers traveling the highway. How many feel exhausted and discouraged tonight? Begin to be built up by the promises in the Word. Look at your neighbor and tell them, “There is a warning. We do have some responsibilities, but the promises and the benefits make it worth the trip.”

•      Strengthen the feeble – The other responsibility of traveling this highway, the word feeble can mean weak either in mind or body, but our responsibility is to help, strengthen, teach encourage and train those less fortunate, blessed or able bodied than we ourselves.

  

•      The recompense of God will come – Here is the warning. Judgment is coming to anyone not traveling the Highway of Holiness. The church should not accept, practice, or promote the standards of this world. We should uphold the standard of holiness and purity of heart outlined in Scripture.

•      He will save you – The first of two promises from this passage gives confidence to those who have chosen the highway option. If you hold on to the truth of Scripture, accept the gift of salvation offered through Christ and live a life honoring toward God, He will save you.

•      The highway will be there – This second promise from Isaiah 35:3-10 states,  the highway will be there. We can count on this roadway being safe and getting us to our intended destination.

•      It will be called the Highway of Holiness – The identification of this highway as the Highway of Holiness should serve to remind us of the many benefits available to travelers on this highway. It also explains who is and is not allowed to travel upon this roadway.

•      The redeemed will walk there – Only the redeemed will travel this highway. We will travel in health, safety, and security. Joy and gladness will be our traveling companions. Sorrow and mourning will be things of the past.

How do we successfully make the trip?

Repent – Begin the journey with a U-Turn.

Proverbs 15:19 “The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway.” (NASB)

Proverbs 16:17 “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who watches his way preserves his life.” (NASB)

Renew – Choose the Right Traveling Companion

Psalm 51:12-13 “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You.” (NIV)

Ephesians 4:23-24 “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” (NLT)

Reestablish – Follow the Rules of the Road
Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (NASB)

Ephesians 4:17-19 “With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.” (NLT)

Rejoice – The Right Compass Leads Us Home

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (NASB)

Ephesians 4:30-32 “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (NLT)

How to successfully make the trip!

•      Repent – Begin the journey with a U-Turn. God always deals with individuals first. Each one of us knows our own sins, faults and shortcomings. Before a nation can turn around we have to turn around. When we have repented, we can set our homes in order. If our homes are in order, we can turn our communities around. When our communities are turned around, the nation will follow suit. Repentance requires the church to offer a clear relevant option opposite the way of the world. If we tell people they are okay the way they are there is no need for the redemptive power of Christ or the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.  

•      Renew – Choose the right traveling companion. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God. By the Spirit we understand Scripture and are led into “All Truth” which means the correct interpretation of God’s Word. When we have been filled with the Spirit, we have the ability to understand and teach Godly principles as well as a holy and righteous lifestyle.

•      Reestablish – Follow the rules of the road. God must be reestablished as Lord of our lives. The Bible teaches us to remove everything that gets in the way of serving Him completely. Anything we trust to deliver us other than God has become an idol.

•      Rejoice – The right compass leads us home. The Highway of Holiness is filled with blessings and reasons to celebrate. Make the right choice. There is a highway option.