Highway of Holiness: A Road for Better Days
Before Jesus came to earth, many prophets predicted His coming. For example, Isaiah referred to mankind’s redemption and the highway of holiness in Isaiah 35:8-9 (TLB).
And a main road will go through that once-deserted land; it will be named “The Holy Highway.” No evil-hearted men may walk upon it. God will walk there with you; even the most stupid cannot miss the way. No lion will lurk along its course, nor will there be any other dangers; only the redeemed will travel there.
Holy means “dedicated or consecrated to God”, setting you apart from the world. You look, act, talk and seem different from other people.
But holiness doesn’t rain down on you because Jesus redeemed you and God sees you as righteous through Christ. Many born-again Christians live the same life they always did after conversion. They don’t read God’s Word regularly, fail to obey the commandments to love God and others, neglect to listen for God to speak, or to turn from sin.
Achieving a life of holiness doesn’t seem possible but people have and continue to walk on this holy road. What’s the highway of holiness?
The Highway of Holiness Is Real
In the early 1900s, people of the Azusa Street Revival were called holiness people because they were different. They became new men and women as described in Ephesians 4:24 – “and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation].”
Holy people are described in 2 Corinthians 7:1 as those who “perfect holiness.” In other words, they work on becoming holy.
Therefore, since we have these [great and wonderful] promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness [living a consecrated life—a life set apart for God’s purpose] in the fear of God.
An important reason to perfect holiness is it reflects our appreciation for salvation. Also, being holy is a lifestyle of choice.
Moreover, there are benefits of living a holy life. Christians make better decisions by discerning and tapping into God’s wisdom. By doing so, you sidestep schemes Satan brings to wreck your life. In some cases, the right decision drastically changes your future.
For instance, a person prays to God out loud expressing their desire for a godly spouse. Immediately, evil forces interfere with that prayer by sending a person fluent in Christianise. This person knows how to deaden other people to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit thereby weakening them spiritually.
A person who walks on the highway of holiness sees this scheme of Satan right away. They don’t take up company with this person God never sent. They learn how to live a holy life because their main goal is to please God and fulfill I Peter 1:15-16 (AMP).
But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage]; because it is written, “You shall be holy (set apart), for I am holy.
This road to holiness seems like a good place to be but it’s easy to take detours.
Other Ways Christians Stay Off the Highway of Holiness
Many times Christians put physical desires ahead of pursuing holiness. Our flesh loves to dictate our thoughts and actions rather than follow the Holy Spirit who lives inside every Christian. Plus, if we grow insensitive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings, we fail to abide in Christ and fall into sin.
By walking on the holiness highway, you avoid getting lost in life because you don’t go down the wrong roads. But be aware, that Satan may whisper that you’re too spiritually elite to get off course. He cleverly disguises himself and brings down people who fail to guard their hearts and depend on the Holy Spirit as a counselor.
You get ahead of Satan’s ploys by loving God more than the world. When you don’t, you’re headed for trouble. By living a Spirit-filled life, pursuing holiness, and quickly identifying Satan’s tactics you avoid traveling to places you said you never would.
Proverbs 16:17 (AMP)
The highway of the upright turns away and departs from evil; He who guards his way protects his life (soul).
A Few More Thoughts about the Highway of Holiness
Christians understand holiness by observing God’s character which He purposely displays throughout the Bible through His goodness and power.
Because God is holy, He sent Jesus not only as Lord and Savior but as the focus of the Gospel message. God’s holiness comforts Christians living among wayward and evil people. We know God will eventually bring the world as we know it to an end. He will put an end to Satan’s schemes.
In the meantime, the blood of Jesus purchased every Christian setting them apart as holy to further God’s Kingdom of grace and glory. Christians take every thought, word, deed, and desire captive to the obedience of Christ.
Holy people are no longer self-sufficient because they celebrate their divine connection with Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. We embrace the triune God in holiness through the people we hang out with, the things we touch, and what we spend our time on.
We can’t unite with Satan and his evil ways and expect to be holy. Neither can we have multiple worldviews, be tolerant of sin or disrespect the truth of God’s Word. Even worse is saying that sin is okay because we’re righteous and holy through Jesus.
Holiness isn’t measured in how often you go to church, how much you tithe, or memorizing Bible verses. Holy people purposely stay on the highway of holiness because the narrow path of living righteously opens doors to freedom in Christ.
Christians come to terms with their own sin, live a life devoted to Jesus, and open their minds, hearts, and spirits to what He wants. They become holy because God is holy. They want His best which is holiness.