It’s Black And White: Plain and Simple 

Pastor Carolyn J. Blue

Isaiah 35: 5-10, Proverbs 30: 5-6, Matthew 7: 13-14, John 7: 38-39

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

It’s black and white!

 

We’ve heard that term for years, but do you really know what it means?

What does –  its black and white mean?

It means that it is something or a situation in which it is easy to understand what is right and wrong: in other words it’s plain and simple. 

 

It’s black and white!

 

When you hear that something is black and white it’s only saying it is this and that and not this or that!

 

It is saying that you shouldn’t need to ask questions nor be puzzled because it’s black and white. 

 

I think about the colors, black and white and they are plain and simple and they’re easy to see, as well as easy to read. 

 

I’m reminded of when I was young growing up, when our parents, grandparents or any adult for that matter told us to do anything – it was black and white. You didn’t question what you were told nor did you hesitate to do what you were told, because it was black and white. 

 

You automatically knew there were consequences to knowing and understanding what was being asked of you to do. Good, bad or indifferent!  

 

I always thought the Bible said that “this way is so plain that a fool need not to error.” But it actually says that though we are fools we shall not err therein. Shall not and need not are two totally different things. It’s black and white. It’s so important to know what the word says. 

 

Proverbs 30: 5-6 reminds us that every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Do not add to His words, or He may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.

It’s black and white!

 

The Bible says any man lacking wisdom, let him ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. 

 

It says do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. As I said earlier, it’s black and white!

 

Yes, you may ask a question: but how do I live this thing called a Christian life? 

 

What do I have to do, you know it just seems so hard. It just seems so impossible to do and yes all of this is true, but guess what? It is black and white.

 

Isaiah tells us in verses five and six that “When Jesus came, He brought salvation, He brought miraculous power with our salvation. 

 

It is a miracle for the blind to see, for the deaf to hear, for the lame to run, and for the mute to speak. 

 

Understand that with your salvation, miraculous provision comes with it. Whatever is dry and useless in your life, will become well-watered and fruitful.

 

Jesus came to bring this beautiful provision in the lives of His people: In John 7: 38-39, He says that “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 

 

In this scripture, He spoke about this concerning the Holy Spirit, which those of us who believe in Him will receive. 

 

There is no reason for a Christian to endure a “dry time,” not when the miraculous power of Jesus Christ to provide is present here and now. 

 

Why, because it’s black and white 

 

In verse 8 it says, And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways fools will never walk there.

 

Today, we take good roads for granted. But in the ancient world, a good road – a highway – was an amazing blessing for travel, progress, and business. 

 

Isaiah announces here that in the ministry of the Messiah, there will be a wonderful highway, a road, known as the Highway of Holiness.

 

This highway isn’t for everyone. It has a “toll booth,” but you can’t make it on this highway by paying your way. You are only allowed on this highway if you are cleansed by the great work of Jesus Christ.

 

The Bible says in Matthew 7: 13-14

 

13  “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell[f] is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 

14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

 

It’s black and white!!!

 

Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray: When we stick on God’s Highway of Holiness, even though His work in us isn’t complete yet – we may still be in some ways a fool – yet we are safe because we are on His highway! 

 

Stay on the highway of holiness! It’s our safe place. 

 

There are guardrails on the dangerous curves, and He keeps us from falling off as He develops the wisdom and maturity in us that will also keep us on the highway.

 

It’s black and white!!!

Looking at all of the needs of the people in this chapter, it is as if we come to God barren, dry, blind, deaf, weak, and crippled. Maybe not naturally, but some of us are spiritually barren, dry, blind, deaf, weak and crippled!

But the miraculous power of Jesus is here to change us, heal us, and provide for us. And the good news is that, this isn’t the end of God’s work though; 

He has made a Highway of Holiness that those of us who are transformed can walk on. This highway is helpful to anyone who is or was barren, dry, blind, deaf, weak, and crippled; but when the highway is provided for the someone who is healed and provided for as we are in Jesus, the blessing is even more amazing.

It’s black and white and everything that we need in order to live a life of holiness is plain and simple. 

 

It’s black and white!!!

 

This walk with Jesus is black and white and we can all live it! We just have to walk it out and stay on the highway of holiness! 

Although we sometimes make foolish decisions and mistakes, the Bible says that if we just stay on this highway we shall not go astray! 

 

Stay on the highway!!! There’s healing and provision for you!!!

 

It’s black and white!