July 1, 2016, I posted a blog entitled “Looking For The  Good Way.” These are not the best of times for the church. In these days the church finds itself marginalized by a culture of changing morals, social debate and the sudden realization that living a Holy life is not compatible with the needs of this new society and its “Way.”  There are many things that are not compatible with biblical teaching. Of course we could cite the “poster child” of today’s social dilemma for the church and many other organizations…same-gender as a civil right, the holy grail of society’s call to action. I do not wish to make this a one or two issue thing. Sin, I believe is any thing that separates us from God. Now we all know that we as Christians often like to cite scripture to bolster our view. It has always kinda struck me that our list often mirrors our Church doctrine and we have a system that tends to list the few we acknowledge in order of seriousness.  I call that “Anti-scripture-mentalism”. I do not know if that is a word, I view it as a condition. I got to looking around the internet and sure enough there is a list! Here is the URL and a caution. Not everything we read should be taken as Gospel. This list contains 667 sins, all with scriptural reference. 

http://www.wogim.org/sinlist.htm

Consider this, some time after God had spoken to the need for living a Holy Life, and laws had been passed to the people, some time later the Jewish Nation was able to add to these about 613 “laws and instructions”  that explained how to live and what not to do to avoid breaking the law. There was no way, you sin you pay. Then along came Jesus and through him the miracle of forgiveness became possible. Sin is a complex thing…. for society.

What is sin, are there varying levels according to seriousness? Actually it is very simple. Anything that separates us from our God is a SIN. 

My plan is very simple.We must quit judging other people, stop paying attention to their way and seek the way to Jesus Christ. We must seek “Where The Good Way Lies.” Well, it took us a long time to get here, but Jeremiah has as good a way as any.

“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)

The word of God is very much with us, even in these days. From the labour of those he ordained and called so long ago to those who labour in the fields of this day, seeking souls for the kingdom. Make no mistake, sin will be punished but there is hope and mercy in the love God has for his people and our advocate, His only son Jesus Christ. We will not find the good way looking at or for the sins of others. The blog this day concerns a people, and a nation that have abandoned the faith and no longer seek the good way.  God called Jeremiah at an early age to the office of a prophet :   

Jeremiah 1:10

 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,

to pluck up and to break down,

to destroy and to overthrow,

to build and to plant.”

In Jeremiah we read about rebellion and sin, covenant redemption and humanity. We also are brought to the understanding that rebelling against God has consequences which will not be postponed indefinitely. In Jeremiah 6: 10-15 God is angered by this constant rebellion and it is plain that redemption will happen only after judgement. I wonder how long it will be for us as a nation and people to get to that point? The sad fact here is that the people of Jeremiah’s day could have turned from sin and avoided destruction. The greatness of Jeremiah can be seen as he walks “Where The Good Way Lies.” These were difficult times for Jeremiah as he went about serving God. Our fate could be the same as Judah if we fail to walk the good way. Pogo, a popular comic strip some years back had a quote in one of its panels “we have met the enemy, and they is us.”  Remember Jeremiah 6: 16   … “But you said, We will not walk in it.”  So the question of the day is, will we say no in our day. If we want to know about God, we must walk in the good way. It is here where the knowledge of God and His will exists.There is no way we can make it up as we go along. We must seek the old paths and be instructed in what God revealed long ago in his word. Where do we find the ancient paths, where the good way lies? 

2 Timothy 3: 16-17

16 All scripture is inspired by God and[a] profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

It is through god’s word and the leading of the Holy Spirit that we will find where the good way lies. It doesn’t stop there. We need to share with family, friends, anyone who will listen. We must again walk the ancient paths. It is important to absorb and learn from God’s word and then walk in it. 

Luke 11: 28

28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

James 1: 22

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.

This is the path that will allow us to truly find rest for our souls. We continue on the path in,

Psalm 16: 11

 Thou dost show me the path of life; in thy presence there is fulness of joy, in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.

Knowing God’s plan and purpose is for our salvation, that’s his way.  

John 14: 6

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.

Now we know the way! Jesus is the truth….the only way to the Father. Jesus is the reality of salvation, now and eternally.

We are at a crossroad, which way will you go? 

2 Peter 1: 5-11

5 For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; 11 so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Titus 3:8 

The saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men.

As we walk along this good way we will find that strength and courage, knowledge and prudence, temperance, patience, godliness, kindness and charity are some of the things we might want to take along with us. You will find the way in your soul, nurtured by the word of God and the acceptance of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Savior. We the people, the Church, are at the crossroad, which way? It is found on an old and ancient path…

 2 Chronicles 7: 14

14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Will you choose to “Walk Where The Good Way Lies?”

Life is Good

jk