Sermon Snippet – The Found Highway
INTRODUCTION – Most of you know of my fascination (my wife would probably call it an obsession) with old music – the older the better. One such song is “Lost Highway,” made famous by Hank Williams, Sr., but written by the blind musician Leon Payne. It is a classic country cautionary tale about the dangers of selfish and self-destructive living. Isaiah speaks about the highway more than any other book in the Bible. It is a unifying motif in this lengthy Old Testament book, and it assures us that we can write a new song – “The Found Highway.”
1. EVEN ON THE LOST HIGHWAY OF IDOLATRY, WE CAN BE FOUND BY GOD
Isaiah 11:16 rejoices in a road from Assyria to Israel. The Israelites had been taken into captivity in Assyria primarily because of their worship of false gods. This passage assures us that there is a way back to God even from the heinous sin of idolatry, which sometimes included child sacrifice. Modern idolatry comes in many forms (for example, false religions, a preoccupation with wealth and power, drugs, popularity). At the core of all of these idols is pride: we simply want to have things our own stubborn, stiff-necked way. Yet, while we were on this low way, something remarkable happened: “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The lost highway of idolatry can become the found highway of faith.
2. EVEN ON THE LOST HIGHWAY OF HATRED, WE CAN BE FOUND BY GOD
In Isaiah 19:23-25, we find mention of both Egypt and Assyria. When Isaiah was writing (from roughly 740 B.C. to 680 B.C.), these two nations were the primary enemies of Israel, one to the south and one to the north. Rarely did Israel experience peace from these brutal antagonists. However, God is not exclusive in His mercy and grace; He offers His eternal salvation to His most vicious enemies. Romans 5:10 provides this sweeping summary: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” All of us have been on this low road of opposition to God; all of us can be found and rescued from such hate; through faith in God the Son, Jesus Christ, we can be placed on the high road of reconciliation. The example of Israel, Egypt, and Assyria – bitter foes – coming together at a future time to worship God is a powerful picture of His saving work in all of us.
3. EVEN ON THE LOST HIGHWAY OF UNCERTAINTY, WE CAN BE FOUND BY GOD
How do we know that these promises of God are true? One reason – a compelling reason – is fulfilled prophecy. Isaiah 40:3 predicts the advent of a forerunner to the Messiah, one who would “make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” This foretelling was fulfilled by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:3). Because so much of the prophetic Word of God has already been fulfilled, we can logically trust that the remaining prophecies will likewise be implemented. This world is an uncertain place. We need clarity and certainty, and we have both in Jesus, Who stated unequivocally in John 14:6: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” He is the fulfillment of prophecy (Matthew 5:17-18) and can thus be trusted to lift us from the broad way of destruction (Matthew 7:13) onto His highway of life eternal.
CONCLUSION – May each one of us be certain that our faith is in Jesus alone, and may we together join in the joy of Isaiah 35:8-10.