From the pen of Dr. Sam Jones 

Highway to heaven. Some 600 years before the Day of Pentecost, Isaiah made one of his many prophecies related to the coming of Jesus as the Messiah. Because Isaiah made so many prophecies about Christ’s coming, he is referred to as the Messianic Prophet. One of the prophecies about Jesus is in Isaiah 35:8.

“A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whosoever walks the road, Although a fool, Shall not go astray.”

This beautiful and comforting passage looks beyond the restoration of God’s people from Babylonian captivity to the great coming of Jesus to rescue all people from their sinful predicament. From this passage several encouraging inferences can be made.

First, the “Highway” not “highways” refers to none other than Jesus Christ. God promises to provide a “way.” In John 14:6, Jesus identifies Himself as “the way, the truth and the life...” There’s no other way (highway) to heaven or to God than through Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 4:12). Jesus is God’s Highway to Holiness.

Second, this highway is going to start in Zion or Jerusalem, and its purpose is to provide all of God’s people a “way” (highway) from their predicament. This highway is to be inclusive of “whosoever” or both Jews and Gentiles (cf. Jo. 10:16; Eph. 3:6). Paul affirms in Romans 10:13, “whosoever” put their trust in Jesus Christ can be saved. In other words, whoever believes and obeys Jesus will be permitted to travel the “Highway of Holiness” or the highway to heaven.

Third, the “fool” of this passage refers to the unrighteous; those who refuse to surrender to God’s way of righteousness through Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 8:30). In Romans 10:1-3, Paul cites an example of a type of “spiritual fool.” Anyone who refuses to submit to God’s righteousness and goes about to establish his or her way of righteousness is a “fool.” Don’t be a fool!

The thought questions for today are, “Are you traveling God’s highway to heaven” or “Are you traveling one of the many highways made available by men?” Any highway will not lead to heaven. The wise man said long ago, “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12). Think about it, if Jesus is the only way or highway, how can any way or highway be a safe highway?

Have a great day and think of ways you can better serve God to His Glory!