Scriptural Reference:
The Road to Emmaus
Luke 24:13–32
The Road to Damascus
Acts 9:1-19
The Highway of Holiness
Isaiah 35:8
Reflection:
We are each on a journey. Traveling the way of the Cross towards our
heavenly home. Yet there are three spiritual roads that we can find
ourselves on. These three are suggested here as the Road to Damascus,
the Road to Emmaus or the Highway of Holiness Each represents the purpose
of the one who enters and travels on them.
The Road to Damascus:
The Road to Damascus begins where Saul begins. As he starts his journey
towards Damascus he has every intention to track down and charging Christians
with a range of charges. All leading to them being stoned to death.
Sail is on a mission to purge the community of those he deems to be
heretics. Those who have twisted the word from what Saul sincerely believes
is perfect. So if you are also on this road you will have started your
journey with intentions to confront those you deem to be false in the
faith. Those you believe sincerely to be promoting false doctrine. You
have set yourself up as God's representative. In many ways taking the
place of God when it comes to confrontation and punishment.
Saul was challenged on this road. He met with Jesus the Christ and
was put firmly in his place. Made physically as blind as he had become
spiritually blind; he was left like a babe in the wilderness. Lost and
alone. Sadly in the times Saul lived any form of disabilities was seen
as a judgment by God. So when he become blind, those who traveled with
him or knew him would have left him. Not wanting to be burdened or tainted
by the perceived guild and sin that he must have had. For God only strikes
blind the guilty.
Are you on the same road as Saul? Are you traveling with a similar
intent To strike out at everyone who does not agree with your personal
view of the Bible? Even when it has distorted what the Bible actually
says. There are many who are walking the footsteps of Saul. They have
decided to omit sections of the Bible that no longer fit their chosen
lifestyle choices. They are now judging and tormenting anyone who adheres
to the Bible as the perfect Word of God.
This is a dangerous road to travel. Pray now for wisdom before God
sees fit to teach you a painful lesson.
The Road to Emmaus:
We are introduced to two believers. They were called Followers of the
Way. They had traveled with Jesus the Christ during His ministry and
shared in many of the miracles that He had performed. Yet now we find
them disheartened and walking sadly towards the township of Emmaus.
They have watched in horror as their teacher was arrested, tortured
and crucified. They shook their heads in bewilderment when their beloved
teacher did not come down from the cross or call down a host of angels
to confront the Roman and the Pharisees. And now they walk alone and
talk in hushed words in fear of someone hearing them.
Now along comes Jesus the Christ. He approaches the travelers and has
chosen to not reveal himself. His words are of curiosity as he asks
them what it is they are discussing so earnestly. His inquiry stirs
up all the angst and confusion that they were feeling. His words make
them amazed that someone would actually not know what was going on.
How could someone not know about their beloved teacher that they should
coldly ask what they talked about? Who was this incredibly insensitive
man?
As we read these verse we learn of the patience and consideration that
Jesus the Christ show them. How he patiently relates to the teachings
of the Prophets and what the Messiah had to go through to fulfill the
prophetic Word of God. We walks with them to the very entry of Emmaus
and a suitable inn where the two travelers were intending to rest for
the night. Where they invited Jesus to stay and share a meal with them.
It is here, while blessing the food, that they finally recognise who
this man really is. They recognise their teacher and their salvation.
At this defining moment Jesus leaves them. I might suggest that the
fact they recognised the blessing of the bread and wine as implemented
by Jesus may confirm that they were present at the Last Supper.
Are you on this road? Sadly walking along thinking that your faith
is strong yet the one you place it in has some how let you down? Perhaps
the Lord of your Salvation is not as perfect as you first believed he
was when you accepted Jesus the Christ as your Lord and Saviour. You
have faith and yet your knowledge, just like the two on the road before
you, is lacking and needs to be made firm. A daily reading of the Bible
will assist you in strengthening you for the longer road ahead.
The Highway of Holiness:
These words are few and only comprise one short verse within the book
of Isaiah, a prophet of the Old testament. Yet they are bold and dramatic
in what they convey.
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.
For many Christians we are happily blessed to travel this road or highway.
To trust in the Bible as the perfect Word of God. As well as to seek
each day to learn more about the way in which it can enrich us and keep
us safe on our journey of the Cross. W3 can draw much from the words
of the prophet Isaiah. A brief note about the prophet teaches us that
he is believed to have lived roughly 700 years prior to the birth of
Jesus. Isaiah found his calling as a prophet when he had a vision in
the year of King Uzziah's death. During his active years as a prophet
of God he foretold the coming of the Messiah Jesus the Christ.
Isaiah was a Hebrew prophet who was believed to have lived about 700
years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Born in Jerusalem, Israel, he
was said to have found his calling as a prophet when he saw a vision
in the year of King Uzziah's death. Isaiah prophesied the coming of
the Messiah Jesus Christ. From reading the book of Isaiah we can derive
three unique things about the Highway of Holiness.
The first is that it is a place of holiness. The unclean and unrighteous
will not walk or travel on this way. For us it is Christ alone who provides
this way of holiness, having exchanged His perfect righteousness for
our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He has paved the way for each of us to
be able to travel this road.
The second is that this will be a place of safety. Where only the redeemed
will be able to walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return”
(Isaiah 35:9–10). There will be no threat to those who have accepted
Jesus the Christ as their Lord and Saviour. There will be no hazards
or stumbling blocks. Just a smooth and blessed place of safe passage.
The third is a place of joy and thanksgiving. As it is written "[Christians]
will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee
away” (Isaiah 35:10). The very road itself will be paved with joy, happiness
and blessed assurance. On this road we will all find ourselves walking
in harmony with each other.
Is this the road you are traveling on? If not, is it the one you long
to take on your journey of the Cross? If it is, than by all means rejoice
in your living Saviour. and study the Bible each day. Seek to enter
this road and follow it all the way to a blessed home with God our Father
and Jesus the Christ our Lord and Saviour. King.
Prayer:
Precious Lord,
There are three roads,
I pray that the road I take
Will lead me to you alone.
Never straying into,
Self righteousness
Painful denial
Or hesitant distractions.
But only down the one
Highway of your Holiness.
Amen