November 2

November 2           A Level Highway

“The path of the upright is a level highway… The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life.” (Proverbs 15:19b; 16:17)

There is a highway that connects our relatively small community and many smaller communities with our closest large city, San Antonio. Highway I-10 has been under construction for years, and those who frequently travel it are weary of the concrete barriers, the shifting lanes around the work, and closed lanes causing major traffic tie-ups. When we used to think of highways, they represented easy access to major urban centers and good roads for long-distance travel. The Bible would have us hold onto this view, as the way to “travel” with God through this life wisely. We are encouraged to stay on Jesus’s road, not leaving it for sin that presents itself like highway billboards along the way.

Yesterday I was planning a trip with a friend, so we used our GPS to find the nearest highway to our destination, being unsure of the best route. Not wanting to diminish our magnificent Savior, Jesus Christ, I humbly suggest that he is our spiritual GPS, leading us to himself and keeping us on his highway, which is the smooth, easy way once we are his. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) “It [is not] grievous and troublesome, but, on the contrary, very delightful, as the ways of Christ and wisdom are; his commandments are not grievous, his yoke is easy, and his paths pleasant; and the righteous man walks at liberty and with pleasure in them; and without offence or stumbling.” *

I don’t know about you, but my highway is always under construction, by my sanctification. I am grateful for barriers and lane changes that keep me aligned with God and his wisdom, challenged to pay attention so I stay on it. “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.” (Isaiah 35:8) I don’t want to be like the Israelites of Jeremiah’s time—“My people have forgotten me; they make offerings to false gods; they made them stumble in their ways, in the ancient roads, and to walk into side roads, not the highway.” (Jeremiah 18:15)

Which road are you traveling today? Will you find a way to stay on the Lord’s highway, with his help? How can you encourage and caution other Christians against leaving it? Let us rejoice and keep faith that “The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalms 121:7-8)

* John Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, Proverbs 15:19,https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/proverbs-15.html