A Reflection on Jeremiah 6:16 for Sunday 17th July, 2022
It is no secret that life is full of choices. Some (many) are small and insignificant. Some are not…
Which one of us has not known at some point in our lives that experience of having reached a turning point or a crossroads?
Life stages: Leaving school, getting married, starting a family, starting a new career, entering retirement... all these and more can be crossroads where we must consider our future and make important decisions.
Troubles and trials: Unexpected hardship, unemployment, long term injury or serious illness, a period of confinement, bereavement, seeing a loved one suffer... such crises can bring us to the crossroads in life.
Just thinking: Sometimes even without any obvious trigger we may find ourselves starting to think more deeply about what our lives amount to, feeling the need for a critical change to stop our drift away from God and to bring about a closer walk with him.
God‛s Ancient Instruction: However we get there God’s advice remains the same as it ever was, the same as was written by the prophet Jeremiah long ago to a rebellious people: when it comes to decisions about which way to go in life: “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. (But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.”) (Jeremiah 6:16).
When God says, "Stand at the crossroads and look…" what does he mean? I think he means that we should not go rushing headlong through life. Stand still and consider…the way you've been, for one. Consider not only the choice of roads ahead, but also, significantly, look back at the way by which you have come. See how God has thus far dealt with you. This helps to prepare us to choose the right way ahead. When Samuel helped the Israelites overcome the Philistines in battle, 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" (1Samuel 7:10 -13). We can build a monument of gratitude.
When we "stand at the fork in the road and look", we may be moved to exclaim with John Newton, "Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home". Stand awhile and look…
"Ask for directions to the old (ancient) road" (Jeremiah 6:16). One thing’s for sure we men don’t readily ask for directions! There are many changes in our world, many new paths (teachings) recommended by the world, and the world often confuses change with progress. Not all changes, not all new things, are improvements. There is ancient, timeless, wisdom which cannot be improved upon. It is no secret to us that this peerless wisdom was and always will be the best path to follow.
Walk in the good way: When God speaks of "the good way" and tells us to "walk in it", He means that it is not enough to "see" the good way. It's not enough even to agree that it is good. You have to actually enter into that way and "walk in it" (Jeremiah 6:16). We have to follow that way and make it our way of life. Walk the walk… not, simply, talk the talk.
Walk Worthy and Wisely: The wise woman does not ask whether the gospel is relevant to her life style, but rather whether the way she lives is in agreement with Jesus. She has to go through what Jesus called the Narrow Gate. "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" (Matthew 7:1314).
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" (Jeremiah 6:16).
Those were the proven paths. The paths that were good, the paths that they would be able to navigate and he said that there would be rest. Unfortunately, the end of the verse says that the people refused. They didn’t want to walk in God’s paths, in the tried and tested ways. We see that very decision play out in our world today where people constantly reject God and His proven path. They believe they have a better way than God.
God’s way is proven. It’s a good way and a good path. Some may call it old fashioned or an old way and that’s okay!
It is no secret… there can be no question… that the choice is quite simple: go with God (ve con Dios!) or go your own way. Yesterday, today and always… the way you choose will determine your destiny.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
One (only) way leads to life and peace.
Which path are you following?
MFR 17/07/22