Article June 12, 1926 Issue

"The way of holiness"

JOAN E. METELERKAMP

IN the book of Isaiah it is written, "An highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness." All down the centuries have prophets and seers directed the thought of the people to this Godward way. The prophet Samuel refers to it as "the good and the right way;" the Psalmist sings of it in varying phrase as "the way of truth" and "the way everlasting;" while elsewhere in the Bible it is referred to as "the way of peace," "the way of salvation," "the way of life." Indeed, the books of the Bible abound in admonitions to walk in this way, in supplications to be taught this way and to be preserved in it, and in promises of excellent reward to all who continue therein.

It was therefore natural that Jesus, in that memorable talk with his disciples on the night of his betrayal, should take it for granted that they were well acquainted both with this way and with its ultimate goal, as evidenced by his words, "Whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." Thomas' doubtful reply, however, "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?" was striking proof of the disciples' singular lack of apprehension of their great Master's teaching. But the Master's compassionate recognition of the mental distance which lay between the limited sense of his followers and his own perfect understanding, had happily wrought in him an unwearying patience with their spiritual shortcomings, which in this instance brought forth the illuminating reply, for which Christendom to-day still gropingly gives thanks, "I am the way, the truth, and the life;" and, to give more practical import to his words and reduce his meaning to individual experience, he immediately added, "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me," implying that his way—the way of Godlikeness—was the avenue of approach to the Father for each and all, and, moreover, was the one and only way in which man's unity with the Father could be proved and ratified.

Centuries have elapsed since the great master Christian made plain to dull ears and hearts this "way of salvation;" and yet are there not to-day many who, like Thomas, seemingly know not the way—who have yet to learn that "the way of holiness" is a divinely mental pathway, and that it is only by employing in our everyday life the selfsame thought-processes which Jesus held to as he went daily about his Father's business, that we can ever truly follow him and reach his spiritual altitude?

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