Introduction

Building a road takes a lot of work. Firstly a path needs to be cleared of obstacles and barriers. Then the roadway needs to be raised, and the road constructed. Watch the video here to see how much work is involved in clearing the way for a road.

1. The road to God’s presence

In our Old Testament reading God declares that a road be built.

“Build up, build up, prepare the road!

Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.” (Isaiah 57:14)

All major roads in our day and age have a name. “Hume Highway,” “the M1,” “the Back Henty Way.” What is this road that Isaiah speaks about? It too has a name: “the Way of Holiness.”

“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 35:8)

Isaiah writes this to warn the people of the coming exile. God dwells on his holy hill in Jerusalem, but the people will be languishing in Babylon. The people are called to travel along “the Way of Holiness” from Babylon to Jerusalem to arrive at God’s presence.

2. Obstacles and barriers

But there are obstacles and barriers along the way. They will trip and stumble. They are unholy and unclean. They are the wicked fools who walk a different way. Isaiah had said earlier in chapter 8 that God “will be a stone that causes people to stumble, and a rock that makes them fall, many of them will stumble” (Isaiah 8:14–15).

There are many people in this world in need of God’s presence. Picture some of them in your mind’s eye now. I wonder what barriers exist between God and those in need of his presence? What stones trip them up and cause them to stumble?

Can we remove any of these barriers so they can come into God’s presence? Sometimes I think about barriers such as our variable worship time, signage, hard seats, our cold building? Are there barriers we could remove to welcome people into God’s presence? Are there changes we can make that would make others feel welcome? Would putting in underfloor heating, or a super-dooper LED street sign help? These things may help, but probably not as much we might want…

It’s easy to think we can remove the barriers preventing people from travelling the road into God’s presence, but it’s not that simple. Sure such changes may help, but the problem is deeper. In the verses directly before our reading, Isaiah writes about the obstacles (Isaiah 57:12–13).

“I will expose your righteousness and your works,

and they will not benefit you.

When you cry out for help,

let your collection of idols save you!

The wind will carry all of them off,

a mere breath will blow them away.

But whoever takes refuge in me

will inherit the land

and possess my holy mountain.” (Isaiah 57:12–13)

The main obstacle he prophesies about is idolatry. Everyone worships something. Everyone trusts in something. Idolatry is trusting in something that’s not the One true God. Idols in Isaiah’s day were (mostly) obvious: a statue carved from wood, an object fashioned from gold. What are some of the idols in our world today? Money? Material possessions? Reputation? Football? Family? Pleasure?

Before we point the finger, idolatry is very easy to fall into. One idol that’s rife in the church is called ‘works righteousness.’ It sounds like this: “I come to church so I’m okay with God.” “I’m not like those others because I pray to God.” “I do lots of good things for the church and the community.” These things are good, but they too can become stumbling blocks and rocks along the Way of Holiness. As soon as we stop trusting in God and start trusting our own works or deeds or actions, we have fallen into idolatry. What obstacles or barriers cause you to stumble and trip?

3. God removes barriers

God declares that the obstacles and barriers between him and his people are to be removed. “Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people,” he says. So what’s changed between chapter 8, where God said many of his people would stumble and trip, and now in chapter 57, where he declares that the obstacles be removed?

What’s changed is the coming of the ‘man of suffering’ in Isaiah 53.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

God sees our stumbling and tripping. We can’t walk the road ourselves; we can’t remove the obstacles and barriers, so God does it for us.

God the Father sends Jesus the Son to be pierced, crushed, punished, and wounded so that you can be healed. Jesus has descended from the high and holy place to build the highway to God. Jesus puts on a hard hat, jumps in the bulldozer and gets his hands dirty — knocking down trees and pushing dirt and rocks out of the way. By dying on the cross Jesus becomes the Way to enter God’s presence. The temple curtain is ripped in two removing all barriers between God and his people.

God no longer dwells only in his high and holy place, “but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit” (Isaiah 57:15). The “contrite” and “lowly in spirit” are those who have ceased trusting in their own strength or the things of the world, but who trust in God alone, who trust that God will build the road and guide them along the way.

“I have seen their ways, but I will heal them;

I will guide them and restore comfort

to Israel’s mourners.” (Isaiah 57:18)

Now that God has removed the barriers for you, what are you going to do? I for one, I want others to experience this peace and healing which God freely gives. I want others to join Jesus and us as we walk along this Way of Holiness together. So let’s tell others about this highway God has built! Let’s tell them that God brings peace to those who are far and near! That is what we can do to help God remove the barriers between him and them. Let’s pray for them right now.

Dear heavenly Father: there are people who desperately need your presence. They are hurting and languishing in dark places of exile. Build a highway right to their front door. Remove all the obstacles that separate them from you. Help us as a congregation to consider what unnecessary barriers we place in people’s way. Thank you that you’ve sent Jesus to build the highway and walk with all people. Use us, Lord, where you need us to help build your highway. Continue to heal and guide us as we walk with Jesus along the Way of Holiness. Amen.

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