JEREMIAH 6:16: “Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.”

OBSERVATION: “We will not go back!” This has become the clarion call of our culture. This has become the slogan of many politicians. They look at the old paths with contempt and promise a new and brighter future. Many see the hope of a utopian society just over the horizon. Yet, is this a reality?

The Old Testament is a historical record of those who proclaimed – “We will not go back!” The nation of Israel quickly became enamored with the practices of the pagan nations that surrounded them and viewed them as the future. How could they remain satisfied with the old ways?

So, they left the old ways. They embraced false gods. They learned the morals and practices of nations who rejected Jehovah. They ignored the Law, went through the rituals, and added pagan practices to their worship and daily lives. They were convinced they were on the right path. Their actions boldly proclaimed…

“WE WILL NOT GO BACK!”

Now, it is important not to go back to things that are destructive. I don’t want to go back to the sin that held me captive before I embraced Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord. Our nation should not go back to the times of slavery and oppression that was a failure of our past. Yet, there are some things that we need to go back to.

• We need to go back to our Judeo-Christian heritage.
• We need to go back to the Biblical foundation of our laws.
• We need to go back to the Ten Commandments.
• We need to go back to law and order.
• We need to go back to calling good – good, and evil – evil.
• WE NEED TO GO BACK TO GOD!

Listen to what is promised to us if we return to God and His Word.

“And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.”

There is anything but rest in our society. There is anything but rest in our world. Since I was born in 1955 the world has not progressed toward a utopia. The world continues to regress. The internet has ushered in a new onslaught of evil at the fingertips of small children. The United States, the bastion of freedom, has become the greatest offender and user of child trafficking. Evil is called good and good is called evil. When God’s call to return to the old paths is proclaimed the world cries out…

“We will not walk in it.”

Dear friend, fellow believer, and neighbor, we are in serious trouble. If we do not return to the Lord with our whole heart we will experience God’s judgment. As an American, I cannot take solace in our past while I ignore our present and pretend it will have no impact on our future. While the politicians and the pundits cry out – “We will not go back!”, the Spirit of the Lord is calling the church…

“And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.”

This will take much more than prayer or a church service. This will take a reformation from the pulpit. It will take sincere repentance in the heart and life of everyone who names the name of Jesus Christ. It will mean that I make choices in my life, how I spend my money, and what I allow in my home. It will mean a radical return to the old ways, the trusted ways, the proven ways of God’s Word!

The writer of Hebrews calls us to such a change in our lives when he writes,

Hebrews 4:6-7: Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “TODAY,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”

Lord, break up the fallow ground in my heart. Open my eyes and ears to see and hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Turn my life fully to You and help me to rediscover and walk in the Old Ways once again!

“And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.”

In Jesus’ Name!