THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS

While the special hope of the Gospel age is so surpassingly glorious, and the way to it, is correspondingly difficult –narrow, hedged in by hardships and dangers at every step–so that few find it, and even fewer still run so as to obtain the great prize at its end, the new order of things in the age to come is to be entirely different.

As a different hope is held out, so also a different way leads to it. The way to immortality has been a way which required the sacrifice of the otherwise lawful and proper hopes, ambitions and desires–the sacrifice forever of the human nature. But the way to human perfection, to restitution, the hope of the world, requires only the putting away of sin: not the sacrifice of human rights and privileges, but their proper enjoyment. It will lead to personal purification and restoration to the image of God as enjoyed by Adam before sin entered the world. (What a glories prospect this is for the world of mankind?)

The way back to actual human perfection is to be made very plain and easy; so plain that none may mistake the way; so plain that “the wayfaring man, and those unacquainted therewith, shall not go astray” (Isa. 35:8–Leeser); so plain that none will need to teach his neighbor, saying, Know the Lord (know the way), for all shall know the Lord from the least unto the greatest. (Jer. 31:34)

Instead of being a narrow way that few can find, it is termed “a highway,” a public roadway–not a narrow, steep, rugged, difficult, hedged byway, but a way specially prepared for easy travel—specially arranged for the convenience and comfort of the travelers. Verses 8 and 9 show that it is a public road, open to all the redeemed–every man.

EVERY MAN for whom Christ died, who will recognize and avail himself of the opportunities and blessings purchased by the precious blood may go up on this Highway of Holiness to the grand goal of perfect restitution to human perfection and everlasting life.

Nor will these be reckoned justified and granted a reckoned standing of holiness and perfection in the sight of God; when started upon this highway of holiness they may go up there on to actual perfection, as a result of endeavor and obedience, to which all things will be made favorable by their Redeemer, then reigning in power. Each individual will, according to his necessities, be aided by the wise and perfect administration of the new kingdom. This, as will occur to some, is the legitimate result of the ransom.

Since our Lord, the man Christ Jesus, gave himself a ransom FOR ALL, and desires ALL to come to knowledge of the truth, and thereby to actual perfection, why does he not at once make a good and broad highway for all? Why does he not remove the obstructions, the stumbling-stones, the pitfalls and snares?

Why not help the sinner back to full harmony with God, instead of making the way narrow, rugged, thorny, hard to find, and still harder to walk in?

A failure rightly to divide the Word of truth, and to see that the present narrow way leads to the special prize, and is for the trial and selection of a little flock of joint-heirs, the body of Christ, which, when selected and exalted with their Head, shall bless all nations, has led some to very confused ideas on the subject.

Failing to see God’s plan, many try to preach a highway of holiness, an easy way to life, in the present age, when no such way exists, and they confuse and compromise the matter to fit the facts and the Scriptures with their mistaken theories. On the highway soon to be opened, only sinful things will be prohibited, while those who travel the narrow way presently must deny themselves and sacrifice many things that are not sinful, as well as war continually against besetting sins. This is A NARROW PATHWAY of sacrifice (of struggle and of hardship in order to gain the prize), as that of the coming age is to be A HIGHWAY of righteousness.

Of that highway it is significantly stated in symbolic language that “No lion (temptation) shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon; it shall not be found there.” (Isa. 35:9) How many frightful lions are now in the way of those who would be glad to forsake sinful ways, and to pursue righteousness! There is the lion of a degenerate public sentiment, which deters many from venturing to obey the dictates of conscience in matters of everyday life–dress, home, and business arrangements, etc. The lion of temptation to strong drink hinders thousands who would be glad to see it removed. Prohibitionists and temperance workers now find a herculean task on their hands, which only the authority and power of the next age can remove (bear in mind the time in which this article was written viz. 1886); and the same may be said of other worthy efforts at moral reform.

“Nor shall any ravenous beast go up there on.” No giant corporations, organized to advance selfish, individual interests at the expense of the general good, will be tolerated. “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain” (kingdom) saith the Lord. (Isa. 11:9) Though there will be difficulties to labor against in overcoming propensities to evil, etc., yet, in comparison with the narrow way of this age that will be an easy way. The stones (stumbling-stones, stumbling blocks, errors and etc.) shall all be gathered out, and the standard of truth shall be lifted up for the people. (Isa. 62:10)

Ignorance and superstition will be things of the past, and righteousness will receive its due reward, while to evil will be meted out its just deserts. (Mal. 3:15, 18) By wholesome chastisements, fitting encouragements and plain instructions, as returned prodigals, mankind will be trained and disciplined up to the grand perfection from which father Adam fell. Thus “the ransomed of the Lord shall return [from destruction, by the grand highway of holiness]...with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isa. 35:10)

Our Lord referred to but two of these ways, because the third was not yet due to be opened up–just as when announcing the good tidings, he said, “This scripture is fulfilled in your ears,” but omitted mentioning the “day of vengeance,” because it was not then due. (Compare Luke 4:19 and Isa. 61:2.) Now, however, as the narrow way draws to a close, the grand highway of righteousness begins to be seen more and more distinctly, in the light of the dawning day.

Thus we have found a “Broad Road,” on which at present the masses of mankind travel, deluded by the “prince of this world,” and led by perverted tastes. We have found that it was opened up and that our race was started in its headlong course upon it by “one man’s disobedience.” We have found that the “Highway of Holiness” is to be opened up by our Lord, who gave himself a ransom for all and redeems all from the destruction to which the “Broad Road” leads, and that it will, in due time, be accessible and easy for all the redeemed ones whom he bought with his own precious blood. We have found, furthermore, that the present “Narrow Way,” opened up by the merit of the same precious blood, is a special way leading to a special prize, and is made specially narrow and difficult as a test and discipline for those now being selected to be made partakers of the divine nature and joint-heirs with our Lord Jesus in the Kingdom of glory soon to be revealed for the blessing of all. Such as have this hope–who see this prize–may count all other hopes as but loss and dross in comparison. Phil. 3:8-15 (A215-218)