“This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” Jeremiah 6:16
Robert Frost’s iconic and long-lived poem, The Road Not Taken, states our conundrum ever so well.
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth”
Two paths stretch out before the weary traveler. And as much as he laments the situation, he must choose only one path. But the true deeper reflection of the poem is not merely the choice, but the choosing. The question looms above for each of us, an ominous dark cloud hanging overhead. As you are faced with two paths today, which shall you select and why?
We live in a world of me. It’s all about me, it’s all for me, and it all revolves around me. And this should not surprise us, this is nothing new, in fact Ecclesiastes 1:9 informs us of just this, “there is nothing new under the sun.” In a clear identifier of mankind’s sin nature, it has always been about self. Trillions of daily decisions today will be based on, what do I want? What is best for me? What will make me the happiest, the most satisfied, and please me the most? Let’s be honest, in a world of me, our choice of paths are almost instantly decided. But of those two paths is there truly one that is better? Well, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ and believe that His Words are inspired, infallible, and inerrant, then all you need to do is revisit the study verse from Jeremiah above. For the Lord tells us there is indeed a good way.
The Lord tells us through the prophet Jeremiah that as we stand at the crossroads, it is not an accident or a coincidence where our feet reside. God carefully crafted our path, fork and all. And as He did, He gave us the tools to make a wise decision in which one we shall tread. Our study verse tells us, “stand at the crossroads and look.” As you stand at that decision point in your life, use Holy Spirit anointed eyes. That is to look to the Lord to enlighten what you see. One of my favorite definitions of wisdom is “the ability to see situations through God’s eyes.” You will be surprised in the difference in asking the Lord to grant you His perception versus using your own sin-tainted lenses. The Lord then instructs us, “ask where the good way is.” As the paths diverge and you find yourself temporarily dumbfounded…ask for directions! God has gifted His children with the miracle of prayer but the question is, how well and how often are you utilizing the gift? Ask the Lord for His direction. But in doing so, be prepared, for you will need to forgo your own choice in favor of the Lord’s. You can’t have God’s way and your way. In this process you will need to realize and admit that there is a power wise beyond your own intellect. And then the Lord delivers this obvious yet difficult addition, “and walk in it.” This is where the rubber meets the road. Will you really step onto the path the Lord instructs? It may well appear to you as the darkest choice, foreboding in its appearance. It may well be a path full of sacrifice, hardship, and strife. Yet, the question remains, will you walk it? And finally, as the Lord has a habit of doing, He makes us a beautiful promise, just as a bow adorns the package, “and you will find rest for your souls.” You see, we unknowingly assign our path with our own personal brand of approval. We carefully analyze our paths to see if they deal sufficient levels of personal satisfaction before we deem them to be successful. Yet there is a reward that towers far above all earthly treasures. Above all the money in the world lies a soul simply resting in the Lord. Above all the houses, cars, power, and affluence in the world, lies a soul that is resting in peaceful obedience to the Lord. And reaching far above any level of self-gratification, lies a life that followed well, choosing not the path of self, but the one clearly pointed out by the Lord. A life walking the good path of the Lord can indeed rest well.
Look, ask, and then walk in the path the Lord has for you today. And as you faithfully do so, you will bring about a wonderous promise from the Lord, to be blessed as your soul steeps in the deep rest and peace that can only be granted from the Lord above.
May your soul find rest in Him today ~ Dan
“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21
“For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He watches all his paths.” Proverbs 5:21
“I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
“He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way.” Psalm 25:9
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