Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV) 16 Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
I will never forget the splendor, wonder, and amazement that hit the world with the mainstream availability of a most wonderful gift from God. Three simple letters that solved so many problems and granted such a great comfort in our lives!
”GPS”
I was working at Radio Shack (back when they still existed) at the time of this big craze! Guys it got SERIOUS. Today we all have it in our phones or built into our vehicles directly. Back in the early 2000s, however, you had to buy your own little unit to mount up on your dash or window in your vehicle. People were so divided into their own gangs and tribes!
The TomTom, Garmin, and Magellan tribes. I am not exaggerating when I say that I witnessed two old men get into a literal fist fight over an argument on whether Magellan or Garmin was superior. It still blows my mind to this day how utterly ridiculous this craze was!
Yet the culture aside…the gift that GPS was is astounding and groundbreaking. It LITERALLY guides your path from one destination to the next. You follow its instructions, and it will take you where you want to go safely! (Except for the odd out of date map that might take you to a corn field instead of to Costco).
Yet NOT following the GPS’ instructions would be met with chaos. REROUTING! REROUTING! REROUTING! YOU MISSED YOUR TURN! REROUTING!
In the above Scripture, we find Jeremiah delivering to a very disobedient ancient Israel, a stern message from God. You see time and time and time again God warned them of the path to take. Simple obedience to His instruction would have avoided the coming judgements that God levied against them. Invasions by enemy countries. Famine and sickness. Cities destroyed. Countrysides burned to the ground. Fear and chaos.
Now of course I am not relegating God’s holy direction as found in His Word to a simple GPS. Yet we find a similarity here. When we do not follow the path laid out before us, it leads to chaos and destruction. You will NOT end up where you truly need to be.
For it is ONLY the path of God Almighty that leads us to where we ought to be. Where HE desires us. What HE wants for us. When we deviate from such a path, it will always lead to strife. ALWAYS.
Follow the path He has laid out before you. You simply need to follow that path obediently, humbly, and trusting that He alone will lead you on the correct path.
SOLI DEO GLORIA!!!!
