Many of the vehicles in Nairobi are covered with dents and scratches. You have to wonder just how madly the cars are driven over there… Or is it the roads that are the problem?

My son was fascinated with how roads are built in Kenya. First of all, all vegetation is removed, and with the help of machinery, the path of the road is made flat and smooth. Next, tons of good-sized, sharp rocks are deposited on the path, and then they are manually laid on the road bed. Great care is taken that the rocks fit perfectly into one another. Some even get chiselled in order to fit in the space provided for them. It must take these construction workers a long time to finish such back-breaking projects!

Then machinery is used to roll over these rocks, in order to make them as smooth as possible. Finally, the final pavement is laid. Amazingly, potholes can still appear on recently constructed roads! And I thought manmade roads would last forever!

God has also built a road for us, but He didn’t use stone or asphalt. Moreover, His highway is devoid of potholes! In fact, anyone who drives His road is filled with immeasurable inner joy and peace: “A highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.” (Isa 35:8 NIV)

The results of following God’s highway are out-of-this world: “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” (Isa 35:5-6 NIV)

But how is this possible? I have never seen such a highway built in my life!

But it does exist. The reason why so many don’t see it is because it is build on a foundation of love, hope and faith. Only the eyes of those who have the faith of a mustard seed (See Mat 17:20) can see the road and walk on it.

The problem is that most of us live by sight and not by faith! “The world’s sin is unbelief in me.” (John 16:9 TLB)

Others put their faith in people through whom miracles are performed. Sounds pretty safe, doesn’t it? But just because someone does miracles doesn’t mean they necessarily know the builder of the highway: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'” (Matt 7:21-23 NIV)

Only One can ask us: “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” (Matt 9:28 NIV)

And if our faith is firmly founded on Him, He will confirm that “According to your faith will it be done to you.” (Matt 9:29 NIV) Only then will the sick be healed. Only then will the blind see and the deaf hear (See Matt 9: 18-34). Only then will we experience the side effects of walking on that Highway. The Builder will reveal Himself to us and an unbreakable friendship will emerge that will last for eternity.

Such faith is only possible by relying on Jesus’ faith. Our own faith is far too corrupted to even reach the category of mustard seed faith! “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.” (Acts 3:16 NIV)

All we can do honestly is to exclaim: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 NIV)

There is a highway of faith build by God and only those who rely on His son’s faith can enjoy it! It leads straight to eternity!

“Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.” (Matt 7:13-14 TLB)

Which road would you prefer to travel on? That mismatched stoned road sure looks fun to drive on, but is our vehicle really a match for such a road?

Rob Chaffart

(To view the entire “Nairobi, Here I Come!” devotional series, please click here.)