3 minute read
A Mellow Gold
Jesus in His anger quoted from two ancient texts: Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11. This is a call to return to the basics and in this pandemic, God is calling us to return, to re-align and to re-calibrate our lives to Him.
The call of the Prophet Jeremiah was the same - to return to the ancient path. This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. (Jeremiah 6:16)
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There are three lessons or paths here.
1. The Reflection Path
“Stand at the crossroads and look” Any one of us who has gone on a hiking trip would have come to a crossroad and we would look for a well-worn path, showing that many had gone through that and it is a safe path. Often to be sure, the park rangers would even put a sign to tell us which way to take.
When we come to such a path, we are told to look. We could either turn towards God or to the path of self-destruction. Perhaps you are at a crossroad in your marriage, your business, your moral convictions, your career, or a critical decision. Churches are at a crossroad. Our nation is at a crossroad. What are these ancient paths? They are the path of righteousness.
2. The Ancient Path
“…ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is…” Our post-modern world offers lots of new paths. It tends to imply that old is bad. Old does not mean outdated or irrelevant. Prophet Jeremiah told us to stick to the old ancient paths, to the paths and choices outlined by our Creator-God and in His Word. There is a tendency for us to look for something new, something more convenient, easier, when what is needed is the timeless truth that works. What is that old way? It is the way of the Lord in the Scriptures and not
some feel-good, convenient and watered-down motivational preaching. It may not be an easier way and will require absolute commitment.
When we move away from the ancient paths, we move at our peril and God will often stumble us to bring us back. What are these biblical ancient paths? If we were to strip everything down to the basic essentials of what we need to do as Christians and as a church, it can be summed up in two simple mandates.
And this is the third path.
3. The Obedience Path
“…and walk in it…” The first mandate is “The Great Commandment”. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Mark 12:30-31)
The second mandate is “The Great Commission”. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19–20)
Anything that does not contribute to these is not worth doing. When we walk in these ancient paths, we will find rest for our souls. Will you take this season to look deep inside yourself to see whether or not you are on the right path?
