Rediscover Timeless Truths: Walking the Old Paths
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.
There are some things which need no improvement, and the old paths are no exception! But wait! What are the “old paths”? Are they referring to some period in time where people in general lived up to higher moral standards? Can it be defined only in terms of religious traditions which either approve or disapprove of certain fads, trends, dress codes, and common activities? Do we think only of a list of do’s and don’ts which today’s society seems to have forgotten or rejected? If it’s a time period, then what time period do we look at, and just how far back do we go? If it’s religious tradition, then who is to say which set of traditions it should be? If it’s a list, then whose list shall it be, for there are many even amongst every Christian denomination known to man which has done nothing but add confusion to our understanding of what the Bible actually says.
No doubt there was a time even in our own country where perhaps the average person’s way of life better depicted what the Scriptures refer to as the old paths than what we have today. Perhaps there are certain traditions which we should hold on to in our churches, which have become traditional only because of their Biblical foundation. And, sure, we can even create a list from the Word of God which tells us things we should do and things we shouldn’t do! However, let us remember that the old paths are not about people, places, and things, for all those will change with the times. The old paths are about that which was laid out as God’s blueprint for success for people, places, and things way before we ever came along! What could it be? In the beginning was the Word! Who was the Word? The Word was God! John tells us that the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. In other words, if you want to walk the old paths, simply enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ by faith, walk hand in hand with Him, and there you’ll be!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
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.
There are some things which need no improvement, and the old paths are no exception! But wait! What are the “old paths”? Are they referring to some period in time where people in general lived up to higher moral standards? Can it be defined only in terms of religious traditions which either approve or disapprove of certain fads, trends, dress codes, and common activities? Do we think only of a list of do’s and don’ts which today’s society seems to have forgotten or rejected? If it’s a time period, then what time period do we look at, and just how far back do we go? If it’s religious tradition, then who is to say which set of traditions it should be? If it’s a list, then whose list shall it be, for there are many even amongst every Christian denomination known to man which has done nothing but add confusion to our understanding of what the Bible actually says.
No doubt there was a time even in our own country where perhaps the average person’s way of life better depicted what the Scriptures refer to as the old paths than what we have today. Perhaps there are certain traditions which we should hold on to in our churches, which have become traditional only because of their Biblical foundation. And, sure, we can even create a list from the Word of God which tells us things we should do and things we shouldn’t do! However, let us remember that the old paths are not about people, places, and things, for all those will change with the times. The old paths are about that which was laid out as God’s blueprint for success for people, places, and things way before we ever came along! What could it be? In the beginning was the Word! Who was the Word? The Word was God! John tells us that the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. In other words, if you want to walk the old paths, simply enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ by faith, walk hand in hand with Him, and there you’ll be!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill