Isaiah 35 looks forward to a day when the wilderness will be renewed. A day when the weak of hands and the feeble of knees and the anxious of heart will be redeemed. A day when “they shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.” A day when “He will come and save you”. A day when the blind will see, the deaf will hear. A day when the lame shall leap, and the mute will sing as “waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert” (Isa. 35:1-6).

But that is not the end of it, that is not the destination. It is but the beginning — the beginning of a journey.

And a highway shall be there,
       and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
       the unclean shall not pass over it.
It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
       even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
No lion shall be there,
       nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
       but the redeemed shall walk there.
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return
       and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
       they shall obtain gladness and joy,
       and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

(Isaiah 35:8-10 ESV)

The Way of Holiness . . . that’s what I’m chewing on this morning. Realizing afresh that’s what I’m traveling on this morning.

Not only rescued but given my own road. Not just made whole but given my own highway — the Highway of Holiness (NASB, NKJV, NLT).

My own lane. Only for the clean, those washed in the blood of the Lamb. “Clean in Christ” — that’s the toll rendered in order to travel on this exclusive road and yet it’s a toll available to all who believe (John 3:16).

A road that is sure, guaranteed to get you to where you need to be going.

A road that is safe, one that keeps lion and ravenous beast at bay.

A road that is song-filled, as the redeemed and the ransomed anticipate their return to Zion. As with singing they set their hearts toward their guaranteed destination — the promised, ultimate realization of gladness and joy where sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

A road exclusively provided for those who walk in the way.

We are on the Highway of Holiness.

That’s our lane. Our HOV lane. Our Hope Of Victory lane.

O weary pilgrim, stay in your lane. Keep on keepin’ on.

We’re not there yet, but we’re on the road.

We’re not home yet. But soon and very soon . . .

By His grace. For His glory.