Traveling on the Highway of Holiness

ByDr. Dan

I have made reference before to my Private Facebook group that reads a chapter in the Bible each day and some members make comments, while others just read and observe.  As I scanned ahead, I noticed that on this Monday, we would begin reading 1 Peter and the verse on which I would comment would be Chapter 1, verse 16, a quote from Leviticus, in fact the same statement is made four times in Leviticus (11:44; 11:45; 19:2 and 20:7). So, Peter writes, “So it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” On another occasion, Isaiah proclaims, “A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it” (Isaiah 35:8). Then Hebrews 12:14 states, “holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Not sure where I got it, but I have in my notes the following:

  • It is not a great profession-Judas Iscariot had that;
  • nor is it doing many things-Herod had that;
  • nor is it zeal for certain matters in religion-Jehu had that;
  • nor is it morality and outward respectable conduct-the young ruler had that;
  • nor is it enjoying hearing preachers-the Jews in Ezekiel’s time had that;
  • nor is it keeping company with godly people-Joab and Demas had that;

Yet none of these were holy. So, what is holiness? Blood-parents cannot give it to their children; Ministers cannot give it to you by baptism; Holiness comes from Christ. Holiness is the result of vital union with Him. Attempt in every way to be Christ-like, and you will be traveling on that “highway of holiness,” but be careful, “the unclean shall not pass over it.”  You know, there never seems to be a traffic jam on the highway of holiness.