Walking An Ancient Path

Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.  But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”           -Jeremiah 6:16

 

            Have you ever looked around the places where you store old things?  It could be a basement, an attic, or maybe even a barn or storage shed.  I would imagine that as you look at the things that fill those places you would very likely find a lot of things that are completely obsolete – technology that is no longer in use and things that, while once very useful, have become little more than relics from days gone by. 

For years I refused to buy a digital camera.  My wife used one, but I would not.  I had a number of 35 millimeter cameras, and even a darkroom to develop film.  I was sure that those cameras would not be completely replaced.  To this day the resolution is better than all but the very best (and most expensive) digital cameras, but at some point I had to admit that the technology I was using was obsolete and needed to be replaced.  This is a normal part of life. 

We live in a day when the rate of advancement in society is unmatched in all of human history.  From the cars we drive to the computers we use there is not a year that goes by that something of value to us is not replaced with something more efficient, more powerful, or just better.  Things are happening today that were unthinkable only a few years ago.  Most of us keep track of much of our life with smartphones that have more powerful computers than those on board the Apollo space missions. 

Some of the advancements we see are great, many are helpful in the things we do each day, but in the midst of all the excitement about what our society can do or achieve, it is important that we make sure we are not losing things of great importance in the middle of all the changes that are taking place around us.  I do not mean things like cameras or cars.  It seems that in this modern day we have lost something much more important.  As we use what’s available to us to continually accomplish more – and do it better – with the limited time we have it is easy to forget about the things that go beyond our society that places so much value and emphasis on human ingenuity and achievement. 

We get so caught up in the advancements of the world around us that we forget about the things that exist and go beyond this world.  In our day it is possible to be better and more efficient in our work, our hobbies, our sports and almost every other aspect of our worldly life.  But for all that man has done, he has never – and can never – come up with an invention or device that will bring us closer to God.  He cannot conceive of anything that will forgive sin, or restore the relationship that God wants to have with Him.  It is easy to lose sight of this fact as we immerse ourselves in the society in which we live. 

Many of the things around us serve to turn our attention from the things of God to the things of the world, and as time goes by we forget what it means to walk the “ancient path” that leads us to God.  Our obsession with the modern world has obscured our view of the One who has provided for, and sustained man since ancient times.  We are not much different from the people of Israel during the time of Jeremiah.  We (yes, even Christians) have become so enamored by the world around us that we have forgotten the one who transcends this world.  We believe we have moved beyond the need for Scripture as a rule for the church and have replaced it with marketing strategies and business models – every invention of man that may provide us the modern shortcut we are looking for to entice people to be a part of the church.  While many look to these “sophisticated” methods of “doing church” we must always keep in mind the place to which those things have led us:

• 43% of Americans believe it doesn’t matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons.
• 50% of Americans believe God will save all people no matter what they do.
• 41% of Americans are unable to identify an individual who they consider to be a strong Christian example or leader

 

We may have all the technology we could possibly need, but when it comes to knowing the Living God we are completely lost.  We have forgotten that no matter how advanced we become the platform from which we approach Him is still one of holiness.  We no longer seem to remember that the mind of God is still revealed through the Scriptures and that God’s power is still appropriated through our prayers.  Year after year we look in vain for the work of God in His church but see nothing more than the limited results achieved by the weak methods of man.  We have lost our way to God and His power.  The Christians of America today who spend their time and efforts groping hopelessly for something to hold onto and some way to find even a little of God’s power can be described by Rudyard Kipling’s poem, The Way Through the Woods:

 

They shut the road through the woods seventy years ago.

Weather and rain have undone it again,

And now you would never know

There was once a road through the woods.

 

            As the church flounders in this country, and we struggle to see the work of God among us, we have to wonder if we are more like the Israelites than we realize.  God asked through the prophet Jeremiah, Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the Lord your God, when he led you in the way (Jer. 2:17)?  As we have allowed all of our modern conveniences to take over our lives we have decided to use the extra time we have found to pursue more worldly pleasures, and given up our pursuit of the “ancient path” to God.  We become enslaved to our hobbies, our lifestyles, our sports and jobs and forget that God has more for us.  If we were only willing to step back from the busyness of this life and assess the way we live in relation to God we may see that God has set before us and ancient way that leads us – not to stress, and an early death from hypertension – but a “good way” that leads us to His peace.  It provides a rest to our souls and a joy that the world can never offer.

 

The Description of the Path

            Scripture tells us that this is an “ancient path.”  It goes against many of our modern ideas and priorities.  The world tells us to value the materials that are offered here while the path God has set before us is one that leads to righteousness.  It does not always give us the things that are valued by this sinful place, but shows us how to walk in harmony and fellowship with the one who transcends all these things.  The world tells us to pursue human achievement while the “ancient path” shows us that all we may achieve pales in comparison to what God can do through our lives if we will surrender to Him.

            We are not talking about restoring the traditions created by the generation or two that came before us, but restoring something that came long before that, something that was given by God Himself.  Too often we convince ourselves that if we make the church the way it was when we got saved everything would be better, and we would see God move once again.  That is not what the Bible is teaching when it calls us to walk in the ancient way.  We are looking to go beyond all of the things that have become distractions, all of the inventions that man has added to the church throughout its history and get back to a vibrant relationship with our Holy Creator.  Back to the path He created for us when Jesus Christ fulfilled His proclamation that I will build my church.  No modern invention or method that we have devised can ever replace the fact that the church was bought with the blood of Jesus Christ.  It belongs to Him, and if you are to bear the name of His church – the Church of God – then you belong to Him.  He paid the price for your soul and ransomed you from all these modern things to which we are so willing to place ourselves in bondage. 

            Look at the history of the people of God and you will see that the church is at its best when the society around us (and even our modern conveniences) affects fewer of her decisions.  When the desire of God’s people is to seek His will and follow it the church thrives.  On the other hand, when man decides that his modern inventions have become good enough to take the place of the power of God and the guidance of His Word and Spirit we always see the same result: APOSTASY!  Every time we stray from the “ancient path” we see a fallen church, one that is not fit to carry the name, nor the power of God. 

This is why this path that God has provided us is called the “good way.”  It originated with God, completely independent of the flawed, errant reasoning of man.  Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go (Isaiah 48:17).”  In contrast, the Bible teaches that even what seems to be the best of man’s advancement is not necessarily God’s way.  A man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit (Proverbs 16:2). 

If we are EVER to see God work in power within the church it will be when we look beyond our modern conveniences to the “ancient path.”  God will move when we put Him before the things that have overtaken our lives, the hobbies, sports, activities and general busyness.  We will see His power when we seek it above all the technology and advancement the ingenuity of man can offer.  The Bible tells us of this path, and then tells us how to get there.

 

The Directions to the Path

            Jeremiah did not simply tell the people of Israel to walk the ancient paths when they found themselves distracted by the idols and culture of the people around them.  He told them to stand by the roads.  The people of God were specifically told to put themselves in a position to find the direction of God.  We sometimes act like God will just strike us with a divine revelation of His Word.  We get the idea that, like John on Patmos, God will show us great miraculous visions of His will.  But if your name is not John and your home is not Patmos it is very likely that you need to put yourself in a position where God will speak to you through His Word, and His Spirit.  We have forgotten how great the Word of God can be in directing us toward His will.  This is His revelation to us, and it shows us the way that He relates to, and works in the lives of man.  It shows us what He has done throughout history, and it reveals what we can expect from God in the circumstances that we face as we journey through this life.  If we take the time to search God’s Word we will find the answers to many of the questions we face in this life.  That’s why Solomon said, Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way (Proverbs 23:19).

            We also hear the Word of God when we are part of Bible studies, Sunday School, and even listening to a sermon.  God will speak through those whom He has called to teach and preach the Word.  By being a part of the gathering of God’s people we are putting ourselves in a position to begin to see the “ancient path” that God has placed before us.  We cannot separate ourselves from the places we know God will speak and expect to see the path. 

            Jeremiah also told the people that they had to look.  Through prayer and meditation on Scripture we discern God’s will.  We have come to the point today that we have almost lost these spiritual disciplines among all the modern gadgets of the world.  Why pray when the answer to every question we could possibly have is on Google?  Do I need to go to God when I have a problem?  I can just ask my iPhone. 

            Jeremiah also told the people to ask.  We seem to convince ourselves at times that God is trying to hide something from us.  We act like He really doesn’t want us to walk with Him, so He is working to obscure Himself.  We struggle to find God’s way while forgetting that James told us, you do not have because you do not ask (James 4:2).  God is revealing Himself all around us, even in nature the Bible tells us.  We just don’t see it because we are caught up in other things.  We have set our sights on a destination that is contrary to that of this “ancient path.”

 

The Destination

            There are people in this country today who are wearing themselves out trying to keep up with the torrid pace of this world.  They are determined to do everything they want to do, anything that might be even a little bit fun or exciting.  They are sure they need to have 25 hobbies and their children need to play every available sport and join every club.  They want to experience everything the world has to offer.  There is nothing wrong with enjoying this life, and enjoying it, but we will someday pay for this attitude that we can never be fulfilled unless we have everything we want.  We try to fulfill this expectation at the expense of the rest that God promises for our soul. 

            When Jesus told us, Take my yoke upon you…for my yoke is easy, and my burden light, He did not mean that He was giving us an excuse to fill our lives with every worldly pleasure we can imagine to the neglect of our relationship with God.   Jesus did promise that He would take our burdens on Himself and help us along this “ancient way.”  But He did not tell us to create unnecessary burdens to place on Him.  Jesus has empowered us and enabled us to carry our cross, and do God’s work in this world.  He has saved and sanctified us for this end.  He has provided us with a better way to walk through this journey; a way that ultimately leads to eternal life.  But we must remember that this “ancient path” leads to a destination where all those worldly things will do no good.  When we arrive at the gate at the end of the path we cannot carry with us our achievements.  Our hobbies and worldly activities will not pass through that way.  That’s why this path is for a specific kind of traveller; one who seeks God’s presence and His goodness above all else.

 

The Travellers

            The “ancient path” about which the prophet spoke seems to be one that goes contrary to all the things the world values today.  It leads in a completely different direction than the paths of man.  But though this road looks difficult – maybe even impossible – we must remember that it is the same path that has been trod by the saints of all the ages.  For John came to you in the way of righteousness (Matthew 21:32)…  He [Apollos] had been instructed in the way of the Lord (Acts 18:21)…  Throughout the ages countless men and women have sought and found this ancient path.  They chose to give up some of their worldly ways and follow an ancient path that rises above all the turmoil and struggles of this world.  It transcends the progress and ingenuity of humanity and rises to the very heavens and presence of the God who inhabits them. 

 

            The way of God is laid out before us.  It continues to wind its way through the lives of men and women.  If we will seek His way out from among all the ways of the world, we will find a good and better way.  We will find rest for our souls.  God calls us today to an ancient path.  Will we follow that path, or will we – as Israel – say, We will not walk on it?