Highway to Heaven

“but the way of the righteous is made plain” Proverbs 15:19 KJV

Plain – Get out the map. This is not a word about spiritual insight. It’s a surveyor’s word. The Hebrew selulah is the word for a road that is built up above the lay of the land. It is designed for easy travel because it doesn’t conform to the dips and curves of the terrain. It’s the ancient version of the modern Interstate. Once you get on, it’s pretty hard to get lost.
The way of the righteous is in the road that is lifted up. Solomon connects orach (path) and selulah in order to tell us that traveling the highway to heaven is no magical mystery tour, wandering here and there in hopes of finding the next road sign. Traveling with God is a well-marked, smooth, four-lane high speed thoroughfare.

But you protest. “Wait a minute. That’s not what my road is like. I’ve hit all kinds of potholes. I had to deal with terrible detours, tragic exits and lots of speed bumps. Why would Solomon suggest that the way is a selulah?” Ah, yes. No one said that sin wouldn’t mess you up. Sin is the demolition derby on God’s highway. Its purpose is to crash you right off the road. And every time we let it distract us from the highway signs, we either end up with a flat or we are suddenly on a one-way exit. There’s nothing wrong with the highway. We’re just bad drivers.
Do you think Jesus woke up in the morning confused about God’s direction? Do you think he got derailed because the pathway wasn’t well marked? Nothing about Jesus suggests that he had any problem following the highway to heaven. Of course, it led straight to the cross. We usually decide to exit before we get to that point, but that doesn’t make the road foggy. Jesus is always the standard. If I follow him, I will always stay on track. The question is whether or not I will always follow him.

David tells us that the steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord. So are the forms of transport. Traveling God’s way is only as difficult as my ability to listen and obey. It’s all connected, isn’t it. Shema – listen and obey. Selulah – Stay on the lifted up road.

How’s your driving?