Come Walk With Me (Part 4: Walk)
Jeremiah 6:16
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.
Tonight we will finish our devotional series on Jeremiah 6:16. I actually started thinking on this series back in late August, and at that time I did not realize it would be a 4 part series. I will admit, it was probably over ambitious for me to take on this task, but I am glad I did. You must forgive me if I seem to be bragging, but writing this series has been a blessing to me if no one else.
Thankfully, I do not believe that has been the case. I have had several nice comments over the course of the last few weeks and they are greatly appreciated. I am also very thankful for all of you who have been sharing these TND. Since our very first one, we are averaging seven shares each week! I very happy to see all of those shares, but I also would love to see these numbers increase. So please, if you are enjoying these TND, share them, and maybe they will bless others.
As stated before, we will finish this series, and if you have been with me since the beginning, I say thank you. Also if you are new in joining us tonight, I welcome you. Furthermore, if you are new, please click on the hyperlinks to go to Part 1: Stand, Part 2: See, and Part 3: Ask of this series.
Now on with tonight's TND.
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Last time, I left you with the following question: What actually are the old paths and what do we do once we know how to find them? More than likely, if you have thought on this question, you probably already know the answers to it. Nevertheless, we will attempt answer this question more in depth.
What actually are the old paths?
Last week we said that the old paths are a good way, because they are a way that was created for us by Christ. We also said that those paths would lead us to places of rest for our soul, and ultimately to our Heavenly home. Nevertheless, we did not exactly speak of what the old paths truly are. The simple answer is this: the old paths are God's righteousness. This is easily proven in the following scripture:
Psalm 23:3
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Notice that the scripture states "for his name's sake". This means the paths are of God's righteousness. The righteousness of God is a topic that many people throughout time have tried to describe in words, and yet they never could completely succeeded. Not because they were wrong, but because our carnal minds just cannot comprehend God's righteousness to it's fullest. Truthfully, if those who have come before me could not do the topic justice, I know I cannot, and I will not even try.
Furthermore, since our minds are carnal and we are sinful by nature, how can we truly understand the righteousness of God? We are like ants trying to comprehend the vastness of outer space. In other words, we are not even a spec when compared to the holiness God. Nevertheless, God commands us to be "holy, for [his is] holy". (Leviticus 11: 45 and 1 Peter 2:16)
So, if we cannot truly comprehend God's righteousness, how can we even travel his righteous path? God knew that we humans would not be able to live up to his righteousness because of the sin that is already bred into us. Yet in his mercy, he provided three things for us to be able to walk this holy road. The first was the law.
The Law of Road
When you are driving on the road, you often see a lot of signs. Each and every one of those signs are designed to get your attention. Some signs are designed to make you want to stop at a local store to go shopping, while others make you want to eat. However, only the traffic signs are designed to actually help keep you safe. These types of signs provide you with information on how fast you need to drive, if there is danger ahead, or even how far to the next rest stop.
God's law is much like the traffic signs we see on the road today. It provides us with rules and regulations that help us in our daily lives. Some of the rules are simple concepts, such as the moral laws of the Ten Commandments. While other laws are more spiritually complex, such as the beatitudes seen in Matthew Chapter 5. Yet, ultimately the Word of God is written so that as we study it, we know how to live our lives.
Let us be honest, even though God has given us his law in his Holy Word, it is not so easy to understand. It is hard to know your Jehoiakim from your Johoiachin, and why they are so important. It is also hard comprehend how the lives of people written in the bible can apply to our life today. Again, God knew that we could become confused in studying his word, and he created a plan for that.
God's School of The Road
When a teenager is first learning to drive, it is a time of mixed emotions for that child. First the child is excited that they are becoming more of an adult. Not only that, but the ability to drive from place to place on your own is a wonderful thing. However, in that excitement there is also nervousness, and rightfully so. A car is a powerful tool, and it you are not careful people can die. However, to help ease children into the process of driving, children are supposed to go to driving school. It is during this time that the child is taught the laws of the road.
When we as Christians are trying to learn and apply God's word to our heart, it may not be easy. Quite frankly, if we misinterpret something it could spiritually devastating. Therefore God created his own "driving school" called the Church. The Church is the best place to learn the laws of the old path. Furthermore, there are other students who there with you, which are your Brothers and Sisters.
Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The Church is important, and yet so often it is easily neglected. However, if we neglect church: where do we learn God's laws and precepts? How do we learn to apply it to our heart and life? Truthfully, there is no better place to be and...
Psalms 122:1
I was glad when the said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord
The Law of God and The Church Do Not Save
Just because there are signs posted on the road, does not mean that you will be safe when you are driving. The rules that are in place, while good, will not save you if you do not follow them. Furthermore, even if you are taught in driving school the correct way, that still does not make you a good driver. The Law of God and the Church are much the same. Just because you know the bible and just because you go to church, does not mean you are on the path of righteousness.
If you go into the book of Roman's you find that Paul tells us that the Law of God does not save. Even our church and our church leaders do not save us. He goes on to say that although the laws show us the correct path, they cannot and will not be what gives us spiritual freedom. The law only points to the thing that does, which is also the third thing that God provided us to walk these old paths
Romans 8:3-4
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Paul ultimately said that even though God's law and his precepts are holy and righteous, they could not save us. This is not because of God's law being imperfect, but because it is perfect and we are not. It is sin, that is inherent in each of us, that causes us no to be able to walk in the old paths. Yet God in his mercy did not only give us the law and the church to help us, but...
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This means that although I cannot and should not be able to walk this old path on my own, it is my faith in Christ that allows me to do so. To put this plainer, Cody Johnson wrote the following
O Lord I can't even walk without you holding my hand the mountains too high and the valleys too wide down on my knees that's where I learned to stand O Lord I can't even walk without you holding my hand
What Do We Do Once We Find The Path?
When we are at our crossroad, God wants us to stand, he wants us to see, he want us to ask for directions to the old paths. Those old paths lead us down a road that require of us to live a holy life. Furthermore, as we have stated tonight we cannot do so by only knowing the bible and going to church. It is through our faith in Jesus Christ that we are even allowed access to this old path.
It is like a toll road. If the price of salvation has not been paid, we cannot even step foot on the old paths. The good thing is, Christ has already paid the toll. Now that we know where the path is and how to get on it: What do we do?
This is the culmination of this entire devotional series. It is what God wants to do. He wants us to walk. Why do you think he told us to stand? Why do you think he told us to open our eyes and see?
Why do you think he told us to ask for the old paths? It simply because he wants us to walk.
You know what God wants you to do, but maybe you are one of the people who say "we will not walk therein." Maybe you have excuses that you think are good, but be honest with yourself, that is all they are, excuses. God demands action out of all of us, he demands that we walk this holy walk and he has even provided the means to do so.
I cannot make you do anything, but I beg you, will you walk with me? Let us travel this road of holiness together. Let us talk to one with another, uplifting one another, and let us travel this old path until we make it home. However, know this, if you do not, I shall go myself and sing the refrain:
I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me; The world behind me, the cross before me; The world behind me, the cross before me; No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow; Though none go with me, still I will follow; Though none go with me, still I will follow; No turning back, no turning back.
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; No turning back, no turning back.
Will you decide now to follow Jesus? Will you decide now to follow Jesus? Will you decide now to follow Jesus? No turning back, no turning back.
