A Fork in the Road
Today was a good “family” day. We traveled to Lakewood to join the morning service for the Lakewood Hub of Mile High Vineyard. This is the six week old church, where our son Christian is the site pastor. Christians shared the message and it was good to see a good group that has formed for this new work.
We then went to Golden for a Summers family reunion. It was good to not only see many of my cousins and aunts and uncles but some their children and grandchildren as well. It was also good to see some other distant relatives from around the state.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “This is what the Lord says: “Stand where the roads cross and look. Ask where the old way is, where the good way is, and walk on it. If you do, you will find rest for yourselves.” Jeremiah 6:16 NCV
Yogi Berra, the famed baseball player and coach was know for is “one liners.” One his most known is “when you come to a fork in the road take it.” Jeremiah begins his prophetic ministry during the time of King Josiah of Judah. Josiah was actually a godly king who lead many reforms for the nation. This was an opportunity for the people along with those reforms to heed the words of Jeremiah and make some significant corrections.
As they faced the future they stood at the crossroads or a “fork in the road.” When you stand at a place where roads intersect or separate, it is a point of decision. If you know for sure where you are headed, it is not a difficult decision, but if it is new territory or if you are feeling “adventurous” that decision gives reason for pause and consideration.
At times when we travel we may take a new road or direction just to see where it leads. Sometimes the well known becomes taken for granted and is view as “boring.” That is where God’s people had been for years. They found themselves traveling down the “wrong road.” At first is seemed to be new and exciting and it was a path that seemed to have many travelers. It was the road away from the Lord and toward idols and sensuality and dishonesty and all kinds of behavior that Lord had spoken against.
Much of Jeremiah’s message is the Lord pointing out the behavior of His people and warning them about what their future would hold. With warnings of judgement is also a call to repentance to take the “right road.”
The prophet Joel would speak of the “valley of decision.” The Lord through Jeremiah calls His people to stand at the crossroads and consider…consider the paths and the choices. He calls them to look for the proven and tested road. He is calling them to a road of blessings and comfort. When we are in “familiar territory” it does creates greater peace and confidence in our lives.
In Jeremiah’s day the roads were not established, by governmental infrastructure projects, as much as the constant path of travelers over the same territory time after time. The roads “well traveled” were well marked and had a smoother path. New roads in comparison were barren,dangerous and unreliable. So, the Lord tells His people, “if you want to find your way, look for the “ancient way” the “good way” then walk in it and find rest.”
Isaiah the prophet spoke God’s message and said, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21 NIV)
The challenge for God’s people in Jeremiah’s day and in our own day is the same. It is not so much, knowing “the way” it is our willingness to choose the “way”….God’s way. This is what the Lord said about His people standing at the crossroads, “But they have said, ‘We will not walk on the good way.’ (Jeremiah 6:16 NCV) It is like they don’t stop and consider, they just “follow their instincts.” But our instincts always lead us in the wrong direction.
Once again were read the words of Isaiah, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa. 53:6 NIV)
To travel the “right path” and choose the right fork in the road, we need a guide. We have that in Jesus Christ and the life He brings. He is able to help us find our way and get us headed in the “right direction.” Like the disciple Thomas we need to admit, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5 NIV) Then we need to hear Jesus say, “I am the way, the truth and the life…” (John 14:6 NIV)
We just need to listen, respond and follow; and as we do, we find a path that leads to God’s promise of a destiny in His presence; a path of peace, rest and blessing.