The Highway Of Holiness

The focus of this week has been on ‘holiness’. Our life should not be centered around learning about holiness alone; rather, we should strive to become like Him. This is a call to be holy! Nobody can dilute the holiness of God. Holiness is also a choice. We are in agreement that life is a journey and there are many ways to lead your life. Jesus has spoken about the ways; the narrow way, the wide way, the sinners way etc. When we step out into the world there are plenty of routes and we use map applications on our phones to find the way. So, every route is a choice!

Matthew 7:13-14 says,
(13) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. (14) But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

There are two routes mentioned here by Jesus very clearly:

1. Leading to life
2. Leading to death

Ways Leading to Death:
Psalm 1:1 says,
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,

In this world, the way of sin exists amongst us. It is an unholy way of life. It is the way of sinners. Romans 3:23 (everyone sinned and are like lost sheep)

Deuteronomy 18:9 says,
When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.

We can see the ways of the Gentiles here. This is referring to those who are not living according to the way of the Lord. Do not learn the ways of the pagans that live in unholiness.

Jude 11:1 says,
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.

Sin is lying by your doorstep, and we need to conquer sin.

Proverbs 12:15  says,
The way of fools seems right to them,  but the wise listen to advice.

Proverbs 15:19 says,
The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
This is the way of sluggers, that is the way of the lazy. We can overcome all of this through strict discipline and targets in life.
 
1 Peter 1:18 says,
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,

Proverbs 16:25 says,
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
Here it mentions the way of death. Some people live their lives in the way of death. This way leads to premature or early death due to several reasons. 

Ways Leading to Life: 
Judges 2:22 - The way of the Lord 
 I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did.”

Proverbs 4:11- The way of wisdom
I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.

Psalm 23:3 - Paths of righteousness. Righteousness means right standing with God. 
 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Psalm 119:30 - The way of faithfulness leads to life.
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.

Romans 3:17 - The way of peace
and the way of peace they do not know.

Ephesians 5:2  - The way of love
and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Life is full of choices. Death is a choice just as life is a choice.
 
Proverbs 16:17 says the highway of the upright avoids evil, those who guard their ways preserve their lives.
 
Isaiah 35:8 says 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.

Isaiah 30:21 says Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”