“The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; he who keeps his way preserves his soul…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. Whoever walks the road, although a fool shall not go astray” (Proverbs 16:17; Isaiah 35:8).
Road construction in the ancient world was an arduous task. It required a massive amount of (slave) labor, especially when the terrain was uneven. Wealthy kings were the only ones who could afford to construct such thoroughfares. If a king desired to travel on a flat surface, his road construction crew would be sent ahead of him to create it. The task was to create an elevated passage (i.e., literally, a highway—Is.49:11) which sat upon level ground. This ensured its travelers’ visibility and comfort as they traveled.
When the King of our universe came to earth to blaze a trail to heaven—the Highway of Holiness (Is. 35:8), He had, as prophesied by Isaiah, a construction crew of one to prepare the path for Him: “as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God’” (Luke 3:4-6).
John’s highway preparation culminated in his announcement: “Behold the Lamb of God…this is the Son of God” (John 1:29, 34). Having completed his road construction assignment, John declared: “You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:28-30).
Jesus constructed for humanity the one way to come to the Father (John 14:6). He is the author and finisher of the faith (Heb. 12:2), His highway of holiness and righteousness elevates one’s existence to its highest possible plane. His highway of upright living terminates at the holy city, the same place He ascended to forty days after His resurrection.
The Highway which the upright travel on preserves/saves his soul.
