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Seeking the Old Paths
Thus saith the
LORD, "Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where
is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your
souls: but they said, 'We will not walk therein'" (Jeremiah 6:16).
The prophet Jeremiah lived during a difficult time. Looking back
after almost 2600 years, we see clearly that the writing was on the wall
for Judah: Babylon was coming, and Judah would not be able to stand. The
LORD tired of Judah's constant faithlessness and idolatry, and would no
longer protect the land of His people (cf. Ezekiel 5:11-17,
11:22-23). The judgment of God was imminent.
The people, however, paid no heed. They did not seek the ways of
notable Israelites of the past, such as Moses, Joshua, David, Hezekiah,
or Josiah. They continued to follow after their idols and listened to
false prophets proclaiming peace and security (Jeremiah 6:13-15).
Judah survived the Assyrian attack, and they believed that they could
survive the Babylonian attack. Nevertheless, within a generation they
would all be dead or exiled to Babylon. What a tragedy! Had the people
of Judah repented, Jerusalem would have been, as Nineveh, spared in
God's mercy (cf. Jonah 1-4); nevertheless, they continued in
their own paths to their own destruction.
While times may be different today, peoples' attitudes are not. Our
confidence in modern technology has led us to find "the old paths"
rather "quaint"; in our world, however, "old" answers do
not seem to answer our "new" questions. "New and improved"
has replaced "stable and trusted." To be "relevant" now
means to constantly change and innovate and not to rely on past
standards. The question must be begged: is this focus on novelty
profitable, especially in spiritual matters? Should Christians just move
on from fad to fad?
Let us heed the words of the prophets, apostles, and teachers from
old. The LORD begged Israel to return to the old paths, which were good,
providing rest for their souls (Jeremiah 6:16). The New Testament
demonstrates that the "old paths" as presented within its pages
are also good, and can provide rest for the soul. The Hebrew author
establishes that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever
(Hebrews 13:8), and therefore the brethren should not be led away
by "strange" and "diverse" teachings (Hebrews 13:9).
Paul warns the Galatians that anyone who preaches a Gospel different
from the one which he preached to them previously (even if Paul
himself were preaching this "new" Gospel) was accursed (Galatians
1:6-9). Jude wrote to encourage the Christians of his day to contend
earnestly for the faith that was delivered "once for all" to the
saints (Jude 1:3).
It is true that something new is not automatically wrong, but
whatever is "new" should not diminish the practice of the ancient
faith. 21st century Christians cannot become first century Christians,
but 21st century Christians must share the same faith and practice as
commended by the first century Christians. Let us strive, then, to seek
the old paths and remain within them, so that we may obtain the Promised
Land and not find ourselves separated from God!
----Ethan R. Longhenry
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