Thursday, December 15, 2016
THE GOSPEL--OUR OASIS ON THE ROAD TO HEAVEN (4)
Isaiah 35:8-10 "A highway shall be there, and a road. And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others….the redeemed shall walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."
THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS
The path to the heavenly fatherland is called a "Highway of Holiness." How can sinners, "unclean" by nature, presume to travel on such a road?
The answer is--only by turning in at the "oasis" or "rest area" called the gospel. For sure, from conception we are sinful and unclean, yes, lost and condemned. Yet to all passers-by the gospel billboards proclaim: "Redeemed!" "Ransomed!" "Forgiven!" "Thank You, Jesus!"
Yes, the arrival of the promised Savior is the basis--the only basis--for such good news. The Son of God and Mary's Son came into this world to live a holy life, then to suffer and die on the cross in the sinner's place. At the same time, through the Sacrament of Baptism the Holy Spirit gave a new birth, washing away all our sins.
Thus sinners are declared "saints"--yes, holy, not because of anything they have done, but because of what Jesus came to do, and did. All who so believe enter Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, "with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."
Oh, that we were there.
O Zion's daughter rise To meet your lowly King,
Nor let your faithless heart despise The peace He comes to bring.
All glory to the Son, Who comes to set us free,
With Father, Spirit, ever one Through all eternity.
(Lutheran Service Book, 331:3, 6)
