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.’ 17 I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But you said, ‘We will not listen.’
18 “Therefore hear, you nations; you who are witnesses, observe what will happen to them. 19 Hear, you earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law.”
—Jeremiah 6:16-19 NIV
America is at the CROSSROADS.
The crossroads of…
God or self-centeredness,
Worship or idolatry,
Reverence or blasphemy,
Truth or relativism,
Wisdom or foolishness,
Sanity or insanity,
Peace or chaos,
Law or anarchy,
Civility or intolerance,
Acceptance or exclusion,
Kindness or cruelty,
Beauty or distortion,
Grace or ruthlessness,
Honor or shame,
Compassion or apathy,
Forgiveness or retribution,
Responsibility or irresponsibility,
Generosity or greed,
Rest or anxiety,
Repentance or stubborn resistance,
REVIVAL or RUIN.
At this pivotal moment in history, we — the church of Jesus and our nation at large — desperately need to pause — stand still — and “look” (v 16).
The word “look” demands deep reflection and focused attention. It challenges us to ask ourselves, “How did we get here? Really?”
“Another one bites the dust.
Another one bites the dust.
And another one gone,
And another one gone,
Another one bites the dust.” — Queen, 1980
One by one the things that make for stability and security have been desecrated and decimated.
Law and order has “bit the dust.”
Truth as an absolute has “bit the dust.”
The protection and innocence of children.
The sanctity of life.
The safety of family.
The security of men who are men and women who are women.
The nobility of public service.
The reality of right and wrong.
The willingness to take personal responsibility.
The courage of one’s convictions.
“And another one gone. And another one gone. Another one bites the dust.”
At this critical point in history, are we willing to ask ourselves some tough, but necessary questions?
SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE CHURCH:
Have our attitudes, actions, words, worship experiences, systems, and methodologies produced the kind of impact necessary to alter the drift and downward slide of our nation?
Are we influencing culture or allowing culture to influence us?
Are we becoming more and more like the world or are we becoming more and more like Jesus?
Are we an agent of revival —
fully surrendered,
thoroughly sanctified,
daily Spirit-filled,
mission-focused,
fiercely loyal to God,
unashamed of the Gospel, and,
deeply devoted to one another,
or are we guilty of the same sin Jesus leveled at the church in Ephesus,
“…I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!” (Revelation 2:4 NLT).
SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY:
Are our homes and families so irresistibly and undeniably loving, encouraging, God-centered, Christ-focused, faithful, and secure that they create a compelling and attractive example that influences and impacts our children in ways that set them on an upward trajectory for life?
Or, have we become lethargic and lackadaisical about the attention, energy, and commitment necessary to grow thriving marriages, healthy families, and secure kids?
Are we providing the kind of direction, training, and “doctrinal foundation” necessary to create the outcome described in Proverbs 22:6, “…even when they are old they will not turn from it”?
Or, have we forfeited and ceded the development and discipleship of our children to the state, social media, popular music, the educational system, and/or culture?
Have our educational institutions produced thoughtful, intelligent, honorable, and courageous young men and women of character and compassion, or thoroughly confused young men and women who lack clarity about basic issues related to right and wrong, good and evil, and justice and injustice?
Is our government led by men and women who sacrifice personal ease, comfort, pleasure, power, perks, privilege, and possessions to serve the best interests of our country’s citizens, regardless of the cost to their political future?
Or, have we opted for self-centered, narcissistic, godless leaders whose only allegiance is to whatever is politically advantageous, even if it means sinful policies and laws that will bring our nation under the judgment of God?
Someone once wrote,
“Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results.”
America is at a CROSSROADS.
This crossroads is not political.
It is deeply spiritual.
The battle isn’t between left and right, Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives.
The battle is “…against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places…” (Ephesians 6:12 ESV).
The Passion Translation renders Ephesians 6:12 as follows:
“Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage.” —Ephesians 6:12 TPT
At this significant moment in history, we must “look” — pause, reflect, think deeply, re-assess how we got here, and reorient our thinking about what it will take to get us out of this mess.
But not only must we look, according to Jeremiah, we must actively “ask.” The implication is: PRAY.
PRAY for what? Notice verse 16.
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.” —Jeremiah 6:16
In other words,
The way forward is back.
Not back to the founding fathers.
Not back to the Constitution.
Not back to the Bill of Rights.
But back even further…
“…ask for the ancient paths…”
This is a reference to the ancient and eternal wisdom found in God’s Word. It’s a reference to returning to the tried and true principles that bring God’s blessing. That brings “rest for your souls.”
The current epidemic related to anxiety and mental health in our country is a direct result of our arrogance and pride that refuses to “go back” and “ask for the ancient paths.” Instead, “claiming to be wise” we have become “utter fools” (Romans 1:22). This is why we can’t find “rest.”
God pleaded with the people Jeremiah spoke to and challenged them. “Look. Pause. Go back. Ask. You’ll find rest.”
But despite the complete devastation their attitudes and actions had created, the people were hellbent on their own destruction.
“But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” —Jeremiah 6:16b
In other words, “Thanks, but no thanks, God. We’re fine…” As they continued to march straight into oblivion.
God’s response to the willful defiance of that nation is indicative of His likely response to our current rebellion.
“Therefore hear, you nations; you who are witnesses, observe what will happen to them. 19 Hear, you earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law.”
—Jeremiah 6:18-19 NIV
God will ultimately allow us to reap the consequences of our own decisions and choices.
Romans 1:24, 28 in The Message describes God’s response to our stubborn resistance and rebellion like this:
“So God said, in effect, ‘If that’s what you want, that’s what you get…’” —Romans 1:24 MSG
“Since they didn’t bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose. And then all hell broke loose…” —Romans 1:28 MSG
In the words of Jeremiah 6:19, God will allow us to reap “the fruit of [our own] schemes.”
We are currently at a crossroads. In many ways, what happens next is up to us.
What will we choose?
God or self-centeredness,
Worship or idolatry,
Reverence or blasphemy,
Truth or relativism,
Wisdom or foolishness,
Sanity or insanity,
Peace or chaos,
Law or anarchy,
Civility or intolerance,
Acceptance or exclusion,
Kindness or cruelty,
Beauty or distortion,
Grace or ruthlessness,
Honor or shame,
Compassion or apathy,
Forgiveness or retribution,
Responsibility or irresponsibility,
Generosity or greed,
Rest or anxiety,
Repentance or stubborn resistance,
REVIVAL or RUIN.
The way forward is back. Back. Back. Back.
“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” —2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
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