Will You Take The First Step?

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."

While meditating on this verse not too long ago, the LORD pointed out that He gave four commandments here to the nation of Israel in order for them to get on the old paths.

This is a verse we all like to quote in regards to getting our churches back to where they need to be. I for one am in favor of getting those old paths back in our churches today.

I believe they are needed, dare I say even wanted, but a closer examination of this verse will see that though our desire is for these "old paths", our answer to the Lord concerning them is no different than the nation of Israel's was.

What do I mean? Look closely at this verse and you will see that there are four commandments given to the nation of Israel concerning the old paths.

    1. They were to "stand in the ways".
    2. They were to "see" the ways that were before them.
    3. They were to "ask for the old paths".
    4. They were to "walk" in those old paths.

Notice in the nation of Israel's response to the LORD, that the only thing they said they would not do was "walk therein."

We do not usually have a problem standing for those things we know God wants us to stand for. We do not usually have a problem standing against the things that God would have us to stand against. We are willing to look and see where the LORD wants us to look and see. We will even ask for those old paths from time to time, because we know they are needed, but, sadly, we will not walk therein.

Unfortunately, today's churches answer can be found in Isaiah 30:8-11:

Isaiah 30:8-11 - "Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us."

Standing is good, but it is not walking. Seeing is good, but it is not walking. Asking is good, but it is not walking.

Beloved, Brother, Sister, Church member, how will you answer? Keep standing, keep seeing, and keep asking, but...Will you be willing to take the first step onto the old paths to walk therein?