“Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3
What constitutes God’s way, and that of man? The truth is found in “origins” and “the nature” of the way. Christ has no origin, for He is the Beginning and the Ending. Scripture tells us that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thus, the ways of God, specifically that which is His highway, is as ancient and unchanging as God is. With respect to that fact, there comes the thought and truth that His unchanging ways are immutable. They are not only are unchanging but cannot be. Christ is what He reveals Himself to BE, an Eternal Rock, the absolute Truth and Righteousness. As to the nature of this “way” of God, it is holy, unique, separated completely from His creation, especially with regard to sin. For example, the Psalmist wrote: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: but verily God hath heard me; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer.” (Ps. 66:18,19) What does this statement have to do with the way, even the highway of God, which is holy? It reveals to us firstly that, as the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews wrote: “…Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (413). God, who is not only the creator of His way, is that One who watches over it. When a person comes to Christ, who is the WAY, that way extends into the heart of the individual. Not only is this way revealed to the believer in some measure, but great care is given by the Author and Finisher of faith, to keep that “way” unobstructed, free from entanglements, and clean. It is kept holy, as God is HOLY. So that, if a believer is sinning, and is at the same time seeking to walk on that way, the Holy Spirit will convict him of sin. Why? God desires to gain the attention of His child, reveal to him the “uncleanness” of his ways, in order that there be a confession of it, grace sought to turn from it, and the reception of cleansing. This applies to every believer. God will watch over the revelation of His way in the heart, so that the believer can know true communion with Him, sin being dealt with thoroughly, there not remaining any obstruction, hindering fellowship. In another passage in Isaiah’s book, this is illustrated. He wrote: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you.” (Is. 59:2) On this highway of holiness, there can be no sin allowed that God brings to the believer’s attention. Communion with God is man’s highest, and most blessed calling, for by it he comes to know God, and glorify Him.
It must be said at this point that Christ is the great Teacher, not the great condemner. His objective is to lead us all into a deep, consistent fellowship with Himself. He does not do this by revealing all of our sin to us at once. We could not bear this. But He will put his finger upon that which He knows is a specific obstacle to faith and fellowship. It is for this reason that David wrote in Psalm 139:23, “Search me O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” David is appealing to God to do something that he cannot do for himself. Though he may be conscious of being a sinner, and be convicted of sin, God alone, who knows His servant, is able to put His finger on the specific obstacle to fellowship, that point of faithlessness and sin, which separates, blocks, and limits God’s blessing. The reward is “…joy and gladness, and sorrow and signing shall flee away.” (35:10)
Dear Father, Lead us in Thy way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.