From William Oldham (Brother Bill)
“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
Back in the day, it was common to see large, white, X signs at railroad crossings. When anyone was approaching a crossing, the wisest thing they could do was to read the words on the sign and follow the instructions. The words on the sign said: Railroad Crossing / Stop Look Listen. Three simple steps that would insure safety in crossing, if they were heeded.
In context, our Scripture is about the Lord giving His people a warning about the path they had chosen to travel. Their actions had removed them far from the Lord’s care and protection. They were on a road leading to their destruction. God, in His great mercy and grace, was trying to get them to turn their back on it, and find the road that would lead to His blessings.
The Lord is talking; our Maker is speaking. And every word that comes from His mouth is important to our eternal well-being. Our Father ever watches over His children in great love, and ever speaks to us from His word—words of instruction, comfort, assurance, and correction. But, today, across our land, and around the world, in the professing church at large, there is an open and widespread departure from His words; a departure from His words is a departure from Him. What is a Christian to do?
The Lord’s words are just as valid for us today, as they were for Israel in their day. The very first thing we must do is to pull up and stop, because we have come to a crossing; a crossing that is a matter of life and death. The train of judgment is roaring down the tracks. Our minds are totally distracted from the most important thing in our life. How many folks have been killed simply by being distracted?
But we don’t just stop, but we stop and look. We must see what’s coming our way. Many things happen in our lives: some are happy and joyful; some are perplexing and frustrating; some are disappointing, and some are very sad and painful. But they’re all temporary, and one day our life here on earth will come to an end. Everything we thought was so important will pass away and we will enter into eternity. We must see that preparing for eternity is the most important thing we can do.
Eternity is forever, and forever is forever. What I’m saying is that nothing is more important than to know where you will spend eternity. So you have stopped and you have looked. Now that the Lord has your attention, He counsels us to ask for the ancient paths where the good way is. Who shall we ask? God has already provided us with the answer before we ask: The word of God clearly and plainly tells us that Jesus Christ is the safe way, the only way to cross the tracks from this life into eternity.
The ancient paths that will give us rest, and lead us safely through this world, and on to God’s fair land, they are found in the Bible. The modern, progressive, liberal preachers and teachers reject the Bible. The paths they lay out for their followers lead them away from the Father and the Son, and lead straight to hell.
The ancient path is Jesus Christ. If we would find rest for our souls here and a place in heaven hereafter, we will earnestly seek to walk in His footsteps.
“Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6
Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net
