Isaiah 35:8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.
A bypass is a highway that “bypasses” the built-up area, crowded residential cities, towns, or villages. It smoothens traffic flow without interference from local intersections, conjunctions and congestions. Travelling by a bypass or highway from point A to point B would be faster, more economical and enjoyable than traversing through the jammed roads with signals or stop signs.
Metaphorically, there is a spiritual highway that is free flowing, fast moving and flamboyant but the toll charges to travel on this highway is “holiness”. It is called the “Way of Holiness”. There is also a slow, thorny and combusted road, busy with activity and anxiety. This road is filled with worldly worries, burdensome baggage and disturbing distractions. The road we choose will determine the quality of our journey. Purity is the pathway to peace, placidity and prosperity. To discover the “Highway of Holiness” our fasting, forgoing and fervor must be acceptable to the Lord. ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ (Isaiah 58:3). Basking under the Sun of Righteousness will lead us on the Highroad of Holiness.
The Highroad of Holiness will not appear in the google-maps of those who know right from wrong yet foolishly choose the malign, meanness and malevolence (wicked fools).
Three prerequisites to the “Highway of Holiness”:
- Fist: Holiness is not “self-righteousness”. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high (Isaiah 58:4). Fasting with the attitude of “I am holier than my spouse, sibling or the stranger with the tattoo” does not qualify us to take the highroad. Fasting cleanses, purifies and wipes away the dirt and distractions from us and reroutes us to the highroad. Take the highroad of forgiveness and relinquish fist fights.
- Finger: Holiness is not “fault-finding”. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk” (Isaiah 58:9). To take the highroad of holiness, we must seal our lips from evil and our tongue from speaking guile. This simply means keep away from gossip, gloating and groping. If we are neither part of the problem nor the solution, we have no say in a discussion. Take the highroad of forbearing and avoid fault-finding.
- Freedom: Holiness is the Highway of “freedom”. “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? (Isaiah 58:6). The Highway of Holiness is for those who stand against injustice, ruse and trickery. It will be accessible only for those who refuse to practice or participate in disparity or discrimination. Intolerance towards suppression, oppression and subjugation is holiness. The Highroad of Holiness is the ethos of freedom.
Holiness redirects our journey to the highway. “Take the highroad, it’s far less crowded” – Warren Buffett.
“Then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land (Isaiah 58:14).
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