Isaiah 35:8, commentary and pictures

Isaiah 35:8 promises a holy highway prepared and cast up for the redeemed and ransomed of the Lord as they return to Zion, from which all uncleanness and sin are shut out and on which even inexperienced, simple and foolish travelers who walk it cannot lose their way. It belongs to the future gathering into the heavenly Canaan and city of God, when the curse is removed and sorrow and sighing flee away in everlasting joy, yet its transforming blessings are to be seen in God's people even now. After sin severed heaven and earth, Christ Himself bridged the gulf and became that highway, the Way who leads humble seekers toward holiness and heaven, smoothing the rough path before them and lighting every step so it grows brighter unto the perfect day. God's word makes that way of life so plain that the poor, uneducated and simple need not err therein, and no sincere seeker need fail to walk in light, with those who are lost turning aside only by following their own judgment instead of His plainly revealed will. Walking it is a high, narrow, royal path above the world, entered by faith and obedience to all His commandments, where self dies, all iniquity and uncleanness are left behind, and travelers live in humility, purity and love to God and neighbor under the guidance of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Highway's Name and Terms

The highway is called the way of holiness, a holy way prepared and cast up for the redeemed to walk in as they return to Zion. It is the path of the ransomed of the Lord, made by God's transforming work for those who cooperate with Him, so that the transformation and the honor belong to Him. It is prepared for those now in the fitting-up time for heaven who walk in full obedience to all the commandments, and it is the way of their final gathering into the heavenly Canaan and the city of God when Christ's atonement is completed, sins are blotted out, and they are forever delivered from the bondage of the curse to dwell with God free from sin and every mark of the curse. Its blessings belong to the future state, yet they are to be seen in God's people even in this world.

The unclean shall not pass over it, for uncleanness and sin have no place on it and cannot enter the restored life to which it leads. No unclean traveler can journey there, and the unclean are excluded from the holy way and from the restored city of God. The redeemed walk there as they return to Zion, dwelling with God in joy unspeakable and full of glory.

The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein, so that even inexperienced, simple, unwise and foolish travelers who walk it will not lose their way. Even wayfarers who lack understanding and wisdom will not go astray, and even simple wayfaring men shall not err therein. Those who travel it, though lacking wisdom, are kept from losing the way.

The verse belongs to the promise of Isaiah 35, where God comes with vengeance and recompense to save, heals the blind, deaf, lame and mute, and turns wilderness and desert into pools and springs. There He sets the holy highway where no lion or ravenous beast is found, for the redeemed and ransomed to walk and return to Zion with songs and everlasting joy where sorrow and sighing flee away. It is present truth to be proclaimed just now with assurance and power and no mournful note, to strengthen weak hands and fearful hearts, and it is given for encouragement in the closing work before the work is closed up and the sealing is finished, when there will be the outpouring of the Spirit and angels in the midst and God's people will be out of the cities, its words to be laid up in the heart with whole consecration to Christ.

Future Glory Promised

The highway belongs to the future state, to the final gathering of the ransomed of the Lord into the heavenly Canaan and the restored city of God. It is the holy way prepared for the redeemed to walk as they return to Zion with songs and everlasting joy, when sorrow and sighing flee away and death and sorrow are no more. There the unclean cannot pass and cannot enter, and even inexperienced, simple and foolish wayfarers will not lose their way or go astray. It is the way for those forever delivered from the bondage of the curse, when Christ's great work of atonement is completed and their sins are forever blotted out. Then those who have triumphed over sin and death dwell with God and live in joy with their Maker, free from sin and every mark of the curse, in a renewed Jerusalem and a restored life where holiness and safety prevail, rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory greater than Israel's rejoicing at the Feast of Tabernacles in pardon through the day of atonement just ended.

Its blessings are future, yet they are to be seen in God's people even in this world. The holy way on which the unclean do not travel is made by God's transforming work when people cooperate with Him, and because the transformation is His work the honor belongs to Him. It is present truth to be proclaimed just now with assurance and power and with no mournful note. It is to strengthen weak hands and fearful hearts with cheer that God will come with vengeance and recompense to save, heal the blind, deaf, lame and mute, turn wilderness and desert into pools and springs, and set the holy highway where the unclean cannot pass and simple travelers cannot err and no lion or ravenous beast is found, for the redeemed and ransomed to walk and return to Zion with songs and everlasting joy where sorrow and sighing flee away.

It is given for encouragement in the closing work, before the work is closed up and the sealing of God's people is finished. Then there will be the outpouring of the Spirit of God with angels from heaven in the midst, and God's people will be out of the cities. The highway is the way of holiness prepared for the redeemed who are now in the fitting-up time for heaven walking in full obedience to all the commandments of God, where no lion nor ravenous beast shall be found but the redeemed shall walk and even simple wayfaring men shall not err therein, and the ransomed shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy, obtaining joy and gladness with sorrow and sighing fled away. Its words are to be laid up in the heart, calling each one and every family member to accept Christ as Saviour and friend, take the offered salvation, place himself wholly on the Lord's side, consecrate himself to the service of God, draw together and depend on Christ alone for salvation.

It belongs to God's word of promise giving reason for faith, hope and assurance, a precious promise for the future given for the encouragement of the churches. It is to be claimed in times of emergency and when spiritual lack, disaffection, unbelief, or opposition among believers threatens to discourage, when meeting those not willing to be helped and when strange spirits counterwork the Spirit of God. Instead of becoming discouraged or repeating discouraging human words, faith is to be strong in God with a true heart to the help of the Lord against satanic agencies, repeating the rich promises of God which are yea and amen in Christ Jesus and making His Word the strong testimony. It calls every soul with a knowledge of present truth to come into line, renew consecration to God and come up to a much higher standard, learning to lean upon His sure promise, taking hold of the mighty assurances given in Christ and in His word, communicating encouragement to others, and daily carrying on the work the Redeemer undertook in behalf of humanity, seen in the life and death of Christ showing what sacrifice heaven was willing to make that none might perish but have everlasting life.

Christ Opens the Way

After sin severed the connection between heaven and earth, Christ bridged the gulf that sin had made and bound earth and heaven together, becoming the highway cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in, for the way to heaven would never have been known by the fallen race except through Him. He is the Way who leads humble, whole-hearted seekers along the path of holiness toward holiness and heaven, so that those who follow Him fully are not left to stumble in darkness. Through His righteousness the children of Adam have access to the Father, the weary and heavy-laden may come to Him on this way and find rest to their souls, and the pilgrim may journey on toward the mansions He has gone to prepare for those who love Him. It is the way back to the Father made bright by Christ as the Sun of Righteousness and true Light illuminating every step with truth, entered through faith in Him, where Christ leads as the true Shepherd so the redeemed avoid dangerous bypaths and pitfalls. On this path He saves sinners from their sins and not in their sins, so that even scribes and Pharisees can be saved only by it.

The path of faith leading from darkness to God is complete and perfect, so human works and penance cannot improve it or earn entrance. It is narrow and holy so that sin cannot be tolerated in it and sin has no place on it, yet access is secured for all and those redeemed by the Lord walk in it. It welcomes even the most hardened sinner who truly repents, and even the worst sinner need not miss the way. Not one trembling, doubting seeker need fail to walk in pure and holy light, and none need think that God does not care for him, for Christ leads as guide to final victory. Every act of obedience to Christ, every act of self-denial, every trial well endured, and every victory over temptation is a step in the march along that way.

Christ is the Guide along the narrow way cast up for the ransomed to walk in that leads to immortal life and the desired haven at last, and He has trod the rough pathway before and smoothed it for the feet of those following in His steps. The way is the path Jesus traveled before, beating down the thorns and rough places to make a smooth path for feet that follow, and walking in it is not smooth and without trouble but means following in His footsteps and choosing the suffering part of religion. Those who take Him as Guide are led safely and do not lose the path or fail to reach the end even though the road is rough and thorny, the ascent steep and dangerous, with pitfalls on the right and on the left, with toil in the journey, weariness longing for rest yet toiling on, faintness requiring fighting, and discouragement requiring hope. He who is the Light of the world illuminates the way, His light shines upon those who follow, the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine upon it so that even a foolish traveler will not get lost on it, and as they reflect the light borrowed from the glory of Christ the path grows brighter unto the perfect day. Being a partaker with Christ of His sufferings on that road leads to being a partaker with Him of His glory. The way is practical godliness for saving souls, the only path that can be traveled with hope of reaching a place of safety from the pit of destruction into which sin has plunged men, which Christ as instructor came to seek and save the lost to reveal and point men to, to be entered without delay.

The road is cast up at infinite cost and opened at great cost to Christ through His sacrifice, blood and life given to pardon transgression and impart His character, and it stands opposite Satan's broad road. Leaving the broad path that leads to destruction and entering it means belonging to Jesus who purchased sinners with His own blood and taking Him as personal Saviour. Christ our Righteousness leads the way for the redeemed to walk, and the Holy Spirit forms their character for eternal life. Walking in it means departing from all iniquity, touching not the unclean thing, following God's Word and law rather than human opinion or self-directed impulses, and being found a loyal and true subject of the kingdom of Heaven, with eye single to the glory of God. The humble and persevering who learn the Lord's ways find righteousness, peace and joy in obedience and keep the feet from stumbling into unbelief or straying from that path, and no longer lead others downward by word and example into thoughtlessness, irreverence and despising the grace of God but lead them by example to see the claims of the Lord upon them and to accept Jesus as instruments through the grace of Christ in guiding souls in the heavenly path.

Its terms are plain and simple and fixed by God alone, with conditions so clear that travelers will not lose their way and even the most illiterate can understand and receive its provisions, so that to neglect or reject those terms is to lose all hope of salvation. It is foolish to spend energy trying to climb up some other way and to clothe God's simple teaching with dark reasonings that confuse minds. The way is to believe God's word and obey His commandments to the letter, loving the Lord with all heart and soul and strength and mind and the neighbor as self, and through faith in Jesus Christ as substitute, surety and righteousness laying hold on divine power so that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in those who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. When justification by faith is presented in clear, distinct lines the way of holiness is plainly marked out, seeing that the only hope is receiving the righteousness of Christ and accepting by faith His love, pardon and abundant righteousness. Those who seek the Lord on this way are given the treasures of His wisdom and knowledge, grasp His precious promises, find hope and courage springing up in their hearts, and find freedom and peace in Him as power and grace accepted by faith set old truths in a new framework and win back first love.

Scripture Made Plain

The way of life and holiness is made so plain that even the poor, uneducated, simple, inexperienced, unwise and foolish need not lose their way on it. No sincere seeker need fail to walk in pure, holy light and truth, and no one has excuse for perishing through misunderstanding. Those who lose the way do so by following their own judgment and inclination instead of God's plainly revealed will. The Bible makes the duties of life clear and reveals eternal life as God's gift through Jesus Christ.

The Bible was given for all people and not for ministers or learned men only. Through the Word and the Holy Spirit God moves upon the heart, giving light in darkness and understanding to the simple, so the sincere seeker is not left in darkness. The humble seeker with open mind and heart made tender by the Spirit, taught by God, can understand for himself, find the path of eternal life and discern each necessary duty by following the light given. Such understanding is shown by a changed life and character. Those willing to be shaped by the Spirit's sanctifying leading into truth need not lose their way, for the Spirit impresses on the mind the vital truths on which salvation depends, and faith means believing God's Word.

Its teachings, including prophecy, are understood by carefully comparing Scripture with Scripture with prayer, letting passages explain one another. Its symbols explained by immediate context or by other Scriptures are then to be understood literally. The verse's image describes the Bible as a system of revealed truths given plainly for human understanding.

God knew Satan would try every art to destroy man, so He caused His designs and purposes for mankind to be written out in His Word so plainly that even the weakest need not err. He carefully preserved that holy Book immortal from destruction by Satan, his angels, and his agents and representatives, so that while other books might be destroyed His Word would remain. Near the close of time, when Satan's delusions increase, it is multiplied so that all who desire may have a copy of God's revealed will and, if they choose, may arm themselves against Satan's deceptions and lying wonders.

The Bible makes this path of life known and distinguishes it from the broad road that leads to destruction, perdition and death, which human wisdom cannot do. Study of history, countries, nations, lands, customs and enlightened men are important helps for understanding God's Word but are not absolutely essential to find this pathway to heaven. Seekers must lay aside personal opinions and prejudice and seek God's revealed will with humble hearts and earnest prayer rather than twisting Scripture to support preconceived theories. Presented with its following verses, God's word is a reliable guide along the way to eternal life, leading the redeemed toward the city of God.

God's word guides and marks out each step along this holy way prepared for the ransomed to travel safely toward the city of God. Satan tries to obscure its light so people will not find or keep to it. God graciously gives light to show this way, and walking in it requires understanding quickened by the Spirit of God, for spiritual things are spiritually discerned. The spiritually blind cannot appreciate the beauties of holiness nor discern the deformity of sin. Those in willful spiritual blindness close their eyes to light and knowledge, claim to lead the blind, yet refuse to travel this path and follow another leader, even Satan, and turning from its light to follow one's own inclination means diverging from it and can lead others astray.

Holy Obedient Walk

The highway is a high, elevated, royal and straight way set above the world and all worldly ways, the only royal path to heaven and the path to life, safety and the city of God. It is narrow in contrast to Satan's broad road that leads to death, too narrow for the burdens of the world, pride and self-importance, and sin cannot be tolerated in it, yet access is secured for all and even the worst sinner need not miss it. It is prepared and cast up for the redeemed and ransomed of the Lord to walk in, and followers are to leave sin, pleasure and folly and help lead others onto it, enduring suffering rather than yielding and walking it through faith and determined effort to final victory. Though marked by trials and discouragements it is not unpleasant but can be victorious, with every act of obedience, every act of self-denial, every trial well endured and every victory over temptation a step in the march along it.

Walking it means departing from all iniquity and touching not the unclean thing, leaving behind pride, self-will, deceit, dishonesty, passion, carnal desires, ambition, indolence, skepticism, self-indulgence, extravagant fashion, pleasure and the ways of the world. It is the path of obedience to God, His Word, law and commandments, requiring entire obedience in response to His love so as to be accepted, kept by loyalty as a true subject who will not meet the Lawgiver over His broken law rather than by altering His will. Those who begin to keep the Sabbath have turned their feet into that royal path cast up for the ransomed, while bowing the soul to idols or walking in self-righteousness and selfish indulgence leaves that way and places the soul among enemies even when no human eye discerns it. Unlike the broad road it cannot be traveled while holding on to sinful ways, and the soul must ask what road he is traveling with eye single to God's glory.

It is a way of self-denial, self-sacrifice and the cross where self must die and there is no self-glorying, with the cross lying directly in the path that must be traveled to reach the crown. Only those humbled even as a little child walk in it and have part in the kingdom, entering it with humility and close dependence on Christ toward the Father's home. Self-confidence and ambition make it seem too restricted, and many forsake it to follow sparks of their own making, but those who abide in Christ can walk it to success, victory and triumph. When serving and honoring Christ and blessing humanity is the motive of all life, even the dreariest duty becomes bright, with countless opportunities of ministry to those for whom He died, Jesus close beside to help and bless and minister to every want, and all contention and envy shut out.

Its travelers walk in simplicity, meekness, humility, uprightness and peace, calmly and trustfully without anxious fear of losing the way, whatever their temperament, if they follow the Saviour. People of different temperaments can walk together on it, but those who cling to evil traits and selfish habits cannot remain on it. To walk in it is to trust God as salvation without fear, to draw water with joy from the wells of salvation, and to praise the Lord, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people and cry out as inhabitants of Zion because the Holy One is in their midst as refuge and shield from Satan's arrows. Its travelers are cheerful because the light of the Sun of Righteousness shines upon them, advancing requires fresh supplies of grace and truth, and though there are downward steps and upward steps the command is Go Forward.

Staying on it requires the heart set in order and a living representation in eating and drinking, dressing, counsel, example, self-control, modest dress and holy speech, bringing advice, prescriptions and true elevation of character into accordance with holy precepts. A truly converted taste proved by dress shows who walks there, with outward adorning always in harmony with inward peace and holiness and self-denial and sacrifice marking the life, keeping distinct from worldly standards and following Christ so the life is a light to others. It is the right path to heaven entered by living the general principles of pure air, pure water and temperance in all things and by being educated away from drugs rather than toward their use. Those in responsible positions in schools and health institutions must walk in the way themselves, for if they do not they cannot guide the feet of others in it or feel obligation to lead associates in it.

It is walked by loving God supremely and neighbor as self, working the works of Christ from love for souls, casting off the works of darkness, putting on the armor of light, holding the light of the Word, and staying steadfast under proving in the enemy's country by wisdom, strength and courage the Spirit imparts. Walking there belongs to humble and contrite seekers who present their bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable, thereby understanding the perfect will of God and not walking in darkness. It means choosing and practicing God's ways and words, following Christ's plan and a plain Thus saith the Lord rather than self-confidence, selfish motives, unsanctified desires, circumstances and worldly policy, committing the way to the Lord, following humbly and trustingly, and seeking to save the perishing. Those who trust their own wisdom make crooked false paths for their own feet and others, drawing the lame and weak onto paths that are not the ransomed highway, and leaders are responsible not only for their own departure but for the mistakes of all who follow their example. Walking in it means following God's Word and law rather than human opinion or self-directed impulses, pressing forward in holiness, receiving Jesus personally and putting the Word into daily practice, which ennobles and sanctifies, so the humble and persevering find righteousness, peace and joy in obedience.

It is entered in haste by disciplining the mind, perfecting Christian character and doing humble consecrated work, coming where God can work as penitent humble souls putting away hateful feelings and taking hold of His strength to make peace, whereupon His power rests and they are not forsaken even when the way seems dark. It is the King's highway of obedience entered at conversion and baptism, a straight and narrow way in which the will is yielded daily in doing just as the word directs, leading close to the Redeemer as the path of implicit obedience and safety. Determining to be on the Lord's side and walking in the straight way in dependence on Him strengthens overcomers to make calling and election sure. Newly baptized travelers, especially children, are inexperienced and their feet must be guided to make straight paths and be kept in the straight path, learning day by day what it means to be children of God, to give up self, overcome temptation and obey God including obedience to parents under Christian counsel.

Turning aside can seem right when worldly influences and disobedience cloud judgment and dull the conscience, so what God does not approve can seem right and a person can believe he is on the way of holiness while heading toward destruction and deceive himself about his path. A deceptive track of error lies close beside the track of truth, so at first many feet are led astray while supposing they walk in the exalted way, and that track widens until all kinds of makeshifts and delusive beautiful things professedly called truth enter upon it. The fault-finding critic who marks out a way for others makes crooked paths for his own feet and his way is dark, but the one who loves Jesus supremely and neighbor as self brings brightness into his path as he keeps following on to know the Lord, and those connected with him will not stumble.

Staying and Leading Others

Keeping the feet in the way means clinging to the pillars of faith established by the three messages, making the Word the only guide and testing everything by the law and the testimony, trusting in the Lord rather than man, connecting with God by earnest prayer and daily seeking, refusing human understanding and self-kindled sparks, seeking light from the Sun of Righteousness, taking no step without diligent searching of Scripture with prayer, receiving reproof and correcting crooked courses, and garrisoning the soul with revealed truth while walking by faith and not by sight in the militant church; those who cling to God's wisdom and heed His message are strengthened to continue and are guided by His counsel unto glory. Jesus holds His people on the holy way by lifting His voice to say Follow Me, staying beside them in every place and business and continually drawing them, so those who remain hear His voice and will not follow a stranger, receiving Him as a well of water springing up into everlasting life with prayer and praise for being called from darkness to light. Remaining requires abiding dependence on God, cooperation with divine agencies, doing His will, watching and praying with Christ abiding in the heart, for without ceaseless vigilance selfishness and sensitive pride take offense and lead to independent judgment apart from brethren, and those who lose dependence and cease prayer are separated by satanic agencies and become channels to lead others off into paths not cast up for them.

Satan works to obstruct and hedge up the path of righteousness prepared for the redeemed, working through human beings by every species of deception as in Eden through the serpent. Leaving happens when one is drawn by lust to earthly objects and Satan's bribes, follows own counsel against the counsel of the Holy Spirit, trusts human wisdom and self-confident judgment, or follows deceived human guides instead of seeking light from God; leaders who make crooked false paths through unsanctified choices mislead themselves and draw the lame and weak after them, and those who leave will lead other souls astray to ruin with only themselves to blame though they had great light. No one can be compelled to travel the narrow path of holiness nor be forced off it, for people are won not driven, followers of Christ cannot be compelled to stray by others' errors, and no power in earth or hell can compel to sin and dishonor holy faith. After a wrong step through ambition, indolence, skepticism or self-indulgence, return comes by retracing steps, resisting the devil, drawing nigh to God, humbly confessing and forsaking half-heartedness and renewing the first experience, walking circumspectly without discouragement in obedience to the letter with every contrite error pardoned, receiving pardon, love, righteousness and sanctification so the lame make straight paths and faith gives strength and light to continue.

Fathers and mothers as missionaries at home must lead inexperienced youth into the path with special care, tenderness, earnest prayer, patient faithful instruction and winning love rather than faultfinding or compulsion, themselves closely following the Saviour and closed to world, flesh and devil, clinging to Jesus through trials and obstacles to speak with patience, comfort and love, guiding children rather than letting them follow their own wishes, for youthful choices turn toward self-seeking or toward service for good. Teachers and Sabbath-school workers keep children and students on the path less by words and oft-repeated lessons than by exemplifying correct Christian character, practical godliness and the love of Jesus, for children unconsciously draw ways and habits from contacts and discern defects, and only those passed from death to life by transforming grace with the Spirit's moving can truly guide souls, while pleasure-loving, proud, display-loving pretenders whose hearts are filled with rubbish need thorough refining cleansing, and teachers are accountable at judgment for feet remaining or turning aside. Knowing the way requires experimental knowledge under the full control of the Spirit, not theory alone, guiding to the Lamb who takes away sin, and teachers must walk in it themselves to lead youth to the fountains of truth.

Ministers and servants lead people from darkness onto the holy way by lifting up Jesus, educating in truth from the treasure-house line upon line and precept upon precept through never-ceasing study, teaching by word and example that grace enables obedience to all commandments and clothes followers in Christ's righteousness, binding together in holy faith to win the perishing and transform associates under the constraining love of Christ. The Advent people travel it as a straight narrow path raised above the world with the light of the midnight cry and Jesus leading, safe while eyes are fixed on Him but lost if they deny that light, and feet are turned aside by extreme unreasonable teachings and fanaticism, by self-deception judging others without love, and by putting self between souls and God into paths He has not appointed. The little Sabbathkeeping flock at Launceston had turned their feet into this royal path of holiness prepared for the ransomed.

Those connected with the publishing work for the last times stay on the safe path connected with God's sacred work by looking to God, transformation of character, eternal vigilance as the price of safety, seeking counsel in large and small matters, emptiness of vanity and self, conversion realizing the sacredness of the work, and sanctification through truth in the inner sanctuary rather than mere assent; failure turns themselves and others aside, imperils God's work and brings discouragement. Students are to preserve strength for practical service helping others find righteousness rather than spend years on unnecessary knowledge or many branches of study, for the path is plain and safe under the Sun of Righteousness leading from the pit of destruction to safety, a life of practical godliness for saving souls to be entered without delay, with truth made clear from Scripture so those in error recognize it and return and the loyal find secure footing. Children and youth stand choosing between worldly self-seeking and Christlike service, and their energy is to be guided tenderly into training for God, learning to fear God and keep His commandments as conquerors entering His city.

The road is too narrow for worldly burdens, pride and self-importance, yet it is not unpleasant: though marked by trials and discouragements it is victorious through faith and determined effort, with wandering feet guided from Satan's snare, weak ones strengthened to press toward the kingdom, and loyal followers finding secure footing. Walking it is a life of faithfulness, purity, holiness, excellence and devotion with eye single to God's glory, following Christ's example and Scripture with pure principles proving profession genuine, standing above worldly schemes opposite destruction, followed with glad willing obedience bearing good fruit, striving for complete character while God works to will and do His pleasure toward life and the city. It is the path from darkness to God away from destruction toward salvation, to which Methodists turned sinners though persecuted for it, made clear by heaven's light so even the wayfarer lacking wisdom need not lose the way.

Entering requires the constraining influence of the Spirit with heart set in order and eating, drinking, dress, counsel and example brought into accordance with holy precepts, and on it the humble and contrite presenting the body a living sacrifice understand God's perfect will in light not darkness, while the willing shaped by the Spirit's sanctifying leading into truth need not lose the way of life. It must never be left under any circumstances even in appearance, but held steadfastly and immovably in Christian obligation toward God. Repentant return to Bible truth sets feet on it, leaving skepticism and selfish ambition behind as the Spirit transforms character and turns desires and hopes toward heavenly things. The true path is chosen by turning feet from false paths onto the course set in the written Word, walking circumspectly without discouragement in letter-obedience that keeps safe, with every contrite error pardoned.

Following God's Word and law rather than human opinion or self-directed impulses brings righteousness, peace and joy in obedience, and walking the narrow path marks the Christian life of self-denial and self-sacrifice in the light against the powers of darkness. Coming where God can work with haste by disciplining the mind, perfecting character and doing humble consecrated work, putting away hateful feelings as penitent souls taking hold of His strength, brings His power to rest without forsaking even when the way seems dark, without appeal to self-sympathy. The way is the track of truth established by Christ coming in human nature, and staying safe on it rejects Satan's deceptive reasoning, scientific problems, erroneous sentiments and insinuating ideas under his leadership. The path is bright and cheerful because the Sun of Righteousness shines, walked calmly and trustfully in meekness without anxious fear whatever the temperament, and Christ's loving words to little children recalled and repeated by mothers keep them from straying. Obedience keeps on the way while departing from or altering God's law leads off, and learning the Lord's ways by contemplating salvation's mysteries and gaining revealed truth at infinite cost keeps feet from stumbling on unbelief. The highway has the cross lying directly in the path to the crown for the humbled as a little child, yet when serving Christ and blessing humanity motivates all life even dreary duty becomes bright, with Jesus close beside to help minister to every need while contention and envy are shut out. Those who receive transforming grace and walk humbly with God on the royal path become beacons whose example, influence and words help other feet tread it to heaven.