What a glorious scene it will be to see the redeemed of he Lord come into Zion once again for the final Kingdom. Isaiah says in Isaiah 35:10 that the redeemed of the Lord shall return to Zion with singing. In great reminiscent of the scene outside Jerusalem thousands of years earlier when Jesus entered and the people sang praises of “Hosanna!”, there will be great excitement once again about King Jesus. But this time “everlasting joy” shall be upon their heads; did you catch that? Meaning that their joy will never ever end again. Gladness and and joy will be upon God’s people and sorrow and sighing will flee.
It would be very easy to say, “Well that’s fine and good for Israel, but it doesn’t affect the rest of us.” But wait, the passage says the redeemed of the Lord. It means those that God has ransomed, and Jesus said that He came to give His life a ransom for sinners. Well, I fall into that category – “sinner.” That means that I am a part of the redeemed of the Lord, and therefore, I will be a part of this parade “when the Saints come marching in.”
But a final thought of challenge as well. What is the road name that they enter on? The answer is in verse 8 – the highway called “the Way of Holiness.” Well it will definitely not be by my works of holiness that I enter the Kingdom, but by the perfect, holy life and work of Christ. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” I will enter by the highway of holiness; why not walk in it now? I am redeemed now just as I will be in that day (perhaps not the redeemed body yet). So why do I so often rob myself of the obvious joy that comes in walking the “King’s Highway” into the kingdom.
With the Spirit’s help and grace, may we journey on this highway of holiness, praising and singing Christ’s praises, and experiencing a foretaste of the our everlasting joy.
