Challenge and Change
Challenge and Change
There are times of challenge and change in your life when you will likely meet Jesus at the crossroads.
God’s Ancient Instruction God’s advice, when we come to the crossroads, was written long ago, and never changes: "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, wherein is the good way, and walk therein" (Jer 6:16)
When God says, "Stand in the ways and see" (Jer 6:16), what does he mean? He means that you should not go rushing headlong. Stand still and consider. Consider not only the choice of ways ahead, but also, importantly, look back at the way by which you have come. See how God has thus far dealt with you. This helps to prepare you for choosing the right way ahead.
Samuel’s Ebenezer When Samuel helped the Israelites overcome the Philistines, he took time to stop and reflect on how God had helped him. He built a monument from stone and called it "Ebenezer" which means "By God's help we have come thus far" (1Sm 7:10-13).
When we "stand in the ways and see" (Jer 6:16), we may be moved to say, "Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home". We may even want to make some form of Ebenezer ourselves —a time of prayer and perhaps fasting, a special gift or act of thanksgiving, or maybe just writing an account of events.
Standing Strong There is another thing we may note in the instruction to "Stand in the ways and see" (Jer 6:16). The first word, "Stand", implies strength. We don't fall down in the ways, but stand in them, strong in the Lord no matter what has befallen us. The scriptures often use the word "stand" in this sense (eg Eph 6:10-13, 1Co 15:1-2, 1Co 16:13).
When God says, "Ask for the old paths" (Jer 6:16), what does he mean? He means that there are many changes in the world and many new paths recommended by the world, and the world confuses change with progress. Not all changes, not all new things, are improvements. Recently I bought a new kind of mouse trap which is a great improvement on the old kind. However there's a lot of difference between a mousetrap and a path of wisdom and life. There is ancient, timeless, wisdom which cannot be improved upon. It shall always be the best path to follow.
The Lamp that Lights our Way The Psalmist said to God, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psa 119:105). The paths where God's word shines may be old paths, but they remain the best paths, because they lead along the good way.
King Josiah’s Attitude In the time of Josiah's reign, the book of God's law was discovered in the temple after many years of being lost. When Josiah was told of the find, he made his people go back to observing it (2Kg 22:8,13).
The Gospel Way For us, the old paths are found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Although Jesus mediated a new covenant or law (Heb 8:6, 9:15), his gospel was in the mind of God before the foundation of the world (1Pe 1:17-20),. As a matter of interest, we note that in the book of Acts, the teachings of Jesus are called "the Way" (eg Acts 19:9,23).
When God speaks of "the good way" and tells us to "walk therein" (Jer 6:16) what does he mean? He means that it is not enough to "see" the good way. It's not enough even to recognize that it is good. You have to actually enter into that way and "walk therein" (Jer 6:16). We have to follow that way and make it our way of life.
Walking in the Gospel Many people regard the gospel as having little relevance to life. That's because it doesn't match their manner and philosophy of life. The gospel is certainly relevant to their lives. They reject it however, because they would rather continue to walk in their own way. Paul says that they "walk in the futility of their own mind, having their understanding darkened, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them" (Eph 4:17-18). The wise person does not ask whether the gospel is relevant to his life style, but rather whether his way of life is in accord with the gospel. Paul says, "walk worthy of the gospel" (Eph 4:1, Col 1:10). I understand that to mean that we conform our lives to the gospel and live in a manner that befits and exemplifies it.
Enter by the Narrow Gate Jesus spoke of this very thing when he said, "Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it" (Mtt 7:13-14). Remember this when you are at the crossroads in life. Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, wherein is the good way, and walk therein" (Jer 6:16).