Two days after I was born, on June 29, 1956, President Eisenhower signed the interstate highway legislation to provide safe, rapid transportation across our country. Just six weeks later, on August 13, the first construction project of the interstate highway system started in St. Charles County, Missouri, just a few miles from where I was called to serve a new mission start.
 
Those two facts tie my life to highway construction.
 
Our two lessons tie all our lives to highway construction.
 
In our Old Testament reading (Isaiah 34-35), the LORD promises to build a highway, a safe way for us to cross through the desert of this life to our eternal home.

Perhaps Jesus had this picture in mind when he told the disciples, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus himself is that true freeway to eternal life. 
 
The need for this safe highway is made plain by the warning of judgment in Isaiah 34. Edom is the nation south and east of Judah, with its capital Bozrah. Why this judgment on Edom? Why is the LORD's vengeance on Edom good news for God's people? This is another example of Isaiah's first readers knowing the relationship between Judah and Edom; those of us living 2700 years later have to learn history. 

• Amos describes Edom's sin against God's people: "Because he pursued his brother with a sword and slaughtered the women of the land, because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked" (Amos 1:11). 
• Ezekiel also records their sin: ‘Because Edom took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so, therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will stretch out my hand against Edom and kill both man and beast. I will lay it waste, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword" (Ezekiel 25:12-13). 

God's judgment on his enemies (Edom) means rescue for God's people. 

For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s cause. (Isaiah 34:8)

We too deserve God’s judgment. In Christ Jesus our Savior, our God has built a safe Highway for us through this desert life.

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom... The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Lebanon, Carmel, Sharon... these place names mean little to most of us.

But picture the desert...

Then picture of the redwoods of California.

When you are in the desert times of your life where hope is dried out and dead, the LORD comes to bring abundant, beautiful life.

We are here to encourage each other on this highway, strengthening feeble hands and steading weak knees (Isaiah 35:3 & Hebrews 12:12).
 

This call to encourage each other is the message of our New Testament lesson (Titus 1:1-2:11).

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter after he had been released from prison in Rome (recall Acts 28 and see map above. After that imprisonment, Paul founded congregations on the island of Crete where he left Titus to finish the work of organizing the congregations.

Titus' story is depicted in icons in the Church of the Holy Titus in Heraklion, Crete that I was privileged to visit a year ago yesterday.

Paul arrives in Crete

Paul leaves Titus in Crete.

Titus reads the letter he received from Paul.

Titus appoints elders.

It isn’t easy starting a new mission. Titus needed to find reliable leaders who would help others to stay on the Highway. That’s the message of Titus 1. In Titus 2, Paul reminds us that, no matter what our place in life as an elderly person or a young person or an employee, we are here to help others on this Way. Notice a repeating theme:

• so that no one will malign the word of God.
• so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
• so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

Life is really all about the Highway that our God has built for us, and us inviting and encouraging others to walk on this way to a place where “gladness and joy will overtake [us] and sorrow and sighing will flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).

Prayer: Father in heaven, when I'm filled with guilt and fear, remind me that your Son is the safe Way to my eternal life. Nothing can separate me from his love. Send your Spirit to strengthen me when I am stumbling. Use me today, at home, at work, at school, to "strengthen the feeble hands and steady the knees that give way," helping those around me to walk safely on this Way. Amen.