THE OLD PATHS
Written by lenpaxton
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 02:39 PM.
[Jeremiah 6:16-19] â 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. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O Earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.â
The Church of Jesus Christ is at a modern day Crossroads. The word that is translated âwaysâ here indicates a place of decision. The prophesied apostasy is upon us and we are going to have to âseeâ and âchooseâ which path we are going to walk on.So many in the church today are running headlong onto the path of apostasy. The modern âWord of faithâ movement, with all of its divergent paths will lead some astray, promising riches and a god-like status that is not Biblical.Others will be drawn down the path of the â seeker-sensitiveâ church, which does all it can, even to the estrangement of Godâs Word, to make people comfortable. One very dangerous path of the modern church are the so called Church growth methods, such as G-12 and Cell group programs, which seek to totally control its members and introduce believers to a non-biblical route of discipleship. Their path is not one of Grace, but rather, is one of law.
The path that the believer needs to be on, is an old path.It was originated by God after the Fall and has been steadily revealed to mankind ever since. This is the path of the Cross. It is by faith in what Christ finished for us at Calvary that a person enters into relationship with God. As well, it is this same simple Faith in Christâs finished Work at Calvary that supplies the believer with the supernatural help and Grace needed to live out our daily lives. Faith in Godâs redemption plan is the âold pathâ. God revealed this Holy path to men like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joesph, David, and to many, many others. When Jesus stated that He was the only âWayâ [road or path] that would lead men to the Father, He spoke of who He was and what He would do for all mankind at Calvary.
If you are trusting in your own efforts or law keeping to get you to heaven, you are on the wrong path. If your hope lies in your confession of a certain scripture or a particular church growth method, you are on the wrong path. If your eyes are ever on Jesus Christ, who He is, and What He did at the Cross, then you are on the old path. This path will lead you into a walk with God that is profitable for you; spirit, soul, and body. Righteousness will be your garment and faithfulness will bring you a crown. Every other path will lead you to weeping and gnashing of teeth. Those who reject Godâs path, the path of faith in Christ and Him Crucified, will find themselves facing the wrath and judgment of God. What path are you on?
