STOP! ASK FOR THE OLD PATHS – Jeremiah 6:16

By: Pastor Andrew Famogun

New Year represents fresh beginning…a moment to reflect and start on a clean slate. The difference though is that your decision now should be made on sound biblical Firm Foundation. Every day you are at crossroads and constantly you need to ask which the right way is. This is because if you make a wrong turn/choice, there could be a lot of trouble.

The days of Jeremiah’s ministry to the people of Israel were days of deep spiritual wickedness. The people had sinned against God to the point where He was ready to give them up into captivity. And, in fact, they did go into captivity in just a few short years. Yet, even while they perched on the edge of judgment, the Lord desires to see them turn back to Him.

In the original, “Stand ye in the way” is written as “Stand ye in the crossroads.” A crossroad is where several roads meet. When you get to a crossroad you might get confused and you may want to know which way to turn, right, left, or center, or to go forward. In this verse, we are given the image of a traveler who come to a fork in the road. He has the opportunity to go anyway he desires, but God tells him to ask for the “old paths, where is the good way“. Instead of just traveling blindly on, this traveler is to stop and ask directions. This year 2015 you must not continue the same way as past years. Ask for the right way. Many are too filled with pride to stop and ask, and as a result, they waste much valuable time seeking their way.

The Lord wants His people to travel the right path. He wants them on a path that will lead them in His direction. While this word of correction was spoken to the Jews many years ago, there is a lesson in this verse for the modern church. It is my opinion that the Lord would still have His people to ask for the old paths. I want you to know that there is a right path and there is a wrong path. We must be sure we are walking the one which God has ordained, the one that He can bless, and the one that honors Him.

A REQUIREMENT

The command that God is issuing to His people is for them not to allow themselves to be lead astray by the false prophets and leaders of their day. They are to look back to men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and others who walked the path of obedience and holiness before the Lord and they are to seek that path for themselves.

God’s command is that they not just go anyway, but that they take the time to find the right path, that old, well-worn path that represents the best way.

In year 2015 be careful to seek for the truth and avoid the confusion of the antichrist that are determined to cause confusion and death by changing a few signs. Be mindful of the government leader’s activities and others that are changing some of the road signs of the faith. Allow me to share a few of the road signs that are being changed in our day.

1. Salvation Through The Blood – Heb. 9:22
2. Belief In The Scriptures – 2 Tim. 3:16; Psa. 119:89.
3. Love For The Church – Heb. 10:25
4. The Reality Of Heaven And Hell – John 14:1-3; Psa. 9:17.
5. The Value Of The Human Soul – Mark 8:36-37.
6. The Soon Return Of Jesus – Rev. 20:12; I Thes 4:13-18.
7. The Holiness Of God – We try to bring God down to man’s level. He is holy – Isa. 6:3; 1 Pet. 1:16.

Regardless of which signs the world changes, it does not change the road! The Word of God is still settled in Heaven. We still know the “old paths”. There is no question about what way is the right way. And, God’s requirement has not changed: ask for the olds and walk therein!

A REWARD

God’s promise to those who walk in His paths is that they will find rest for their souls. That is, in His paths, we can be assured of three great truths.

1. One, we can be sure that we will arrive at the proper destination! When we take the Lord’s highway, we can be sure that it will end in His presence!
2. We can travel in safety knowing that the Lord is guarding our way. Not only will we end up where we want to be, but we will get there in the safest, most peaceful manner possible.
3. We can know that while we are on the Lord’s path, the deepest needs of our soul will be met! There will be fellowship with Him and joy in His presence at the end of the way!

Those who fails to ask for the old paths will find themselves walking in the ways of destruction and unhappiness. When we turn our backs on the way God has chosen as the right way we will find that the way is difficult, there is no peace or safety and the destination is ever in question. There is a reward for those who will walk in the Lord’s pathway! Those who refused his path meet with chastisement and destruction (Jer. 6:17-30). There is a high price to pay for refusing to walk in the Lord’s will!

This year, be deliberate to please God. Hold your head high and walk in the way God has ordained without apology and without backing down. Let us be everything the Lord commanded us to be in His Word, 1 Cor. 15:58. You can go to the Lord and tell him that you want to be close to Him. Tell Him that you want to love Him, pray and study His word. Tell Him you want to praise Him, serve Him and witness. Tell Him that you want to be His friend. If you are not yet born again, you have not even started the journey. In your own case, repent from all your sins and tell Him that from now on, you will serve Him.