THE OLD WAYS ARE THE GOOD WAYS
 Jer. 6:16

We are living in a day when just because something is old it is thought to be useless and ineffective. If something is new or modern it is immediately thought to be superior than its predecessor.  I will grant you that there are many things today that have replaced Inferior products.

For example. the automobiLes today are far- superior to those built in the begining.  There’s more comfort in them and they are more reliable. Remember that old Model T and how undependable it was, especially in cold weather?  Not to mention tires.  It was routine in those days to change a flat everytime you took a trip.  Today, many drivers hardly know to change a tire.

Then for you ladies, there is the stove. Your grandmother used an old wood or coal cook stove to prepare her meals with.  There was no refri3era£or back then.  You didn't go to the cupboard and just pull down a can of this or a can of that.  She had to do and make everything from scratch.

Often when I hear people moan and long for the good old days,  I wonder what they really mean.  The only good thing about the ‘good old days“ is that they are gone forever.

We live in a fast changing world.  Nothing stands still for a second. Technology today is exploding.  What is up to date today. will be out of style tommorrow.  Thinga are changing, sometimes I think, too fast.  We can barely keep up with the discoveries that are being brought to our attention each week.

Even though many things have indeed changed, some things never change.  It’s important that we know the difference between those things that change constantly and those things that are eternal, and never change.  A lot depends on the difference.

One thing that never changes is Spiritual. Spiritual truth and spiritual ways never change. ’Phis is what is being taught here in Jeremiah 6, especially verse 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.“

The Bible teaches us here that you cannot improve on what God has already established.  In this sense, the old ways are the good ways, and it behooves each of us to return to those old ways. Those old ways wherelh is the blessing of the Lord.

There are several things of interest here in this verse.  Note them with me.

THERE IS AN INVITATION FOR US TO EXAMINE THE COURSE OF OUR LIFE

”Stand ye in the paths and see.”

It is extremely important for us to periodically review and examine the course of our life.  Just where are we headed? and, Are we still on target?

The apostle Paul recommended this very thing for the Corinthians.  2 Corinthians 13:5  “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

There are many people today who assume that they are alright. when in fact they are far from being all right.  There is sin in their lives.  We need to examine ourselves on a regular basis.  This is not to suggest that we becotne morbid and introspective. But it does mean that we are constantly on guard for anything that might crop up that is not Christ- like.

In order for us to examine our lives we need to compare our lives.  There are at least three areas where we can compare our lives.

(1)  With other Christians around us. Are we really in keeping with the professing Christians around us?  How does our life stack up to them?

(2) With those great souls who have accomplished much for the cause of Christ in the past.  I believe it is important for modern Christians to read Christian biography.  Biographies of those great Christians from the past.  Livingston, Carey, Judsbn. Taylor, Spurgeon, and the list goes on. We need to read and see how God used those great men and women of Cod in the past, and the great sacrifice each of them made for the cause of Christ. When you think that you are really going through trials and tribulations, take down that old. worn copy of FOXES BooK of MARTYRS.  Those people REALLY suffered for the cause of Christ.

(3) With the Word of God.  This must be preeminent.  How do you compare with the Word of God.  This is the ultimate comparison.  This is where we rise or fall.  If you have never compared your life with the Word of God, you have never really examined your life.  The scriptures must be brought to bear on everything in our life.
We also examine our lives by evaluating it in light of what we have accomplished so far.  What have we actually produced up to this point?

Are we really living a fruitful and productive Christian life? Or, are we just getting along?

The normal Christian life leads to fruitfulness.  John 15:8  “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

II. THERE IS ALSO AN EXHOITATION TO CHOOSE THE OLD PATHS

“...and ask for the old paths...”

In our comparison and evaluation we come very naturally to the fact that we just cannot improve on God.  That is impossible to do.

James 1:17  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Malachi 3:6  “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
There are many more scriptures that establish this very truth concerning God.  God never changes.  He will always remain the same.

We are exhorted here to inquire into God’s ways.  These ways are eternal.  They have been established before the foundations of the world, and ivill never pass away.  Jesus said in

Matthew 24:35  “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

Therefore, we can confidently come to the Word oF God and inquire into the ways of God.  Those ways will never change.
We are exhorted to search after God and long after Him as the men of Cod did long ago.

DAVID -  Psalms 42:1  “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”
It’s easy to see here that we are exhorted to apply what we see in the Word to our own lives. We are to accept it and then apply it.

EVERY PROMISE IN THE BOOK IS MINE.

The force of this is that we are to demand, at all costs, God’s will and Cod’s way.

III. AN OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW THE GOOD WAY.
“and walk therein”

After seeing God’s way and knowing God’s will, we have a solemn obligation to bring our lives into harmony with that.  God desires not to break our will, but that we would bend our wills to His will.

IV.  LASTLY, THERE IS A PROMISE OF REST TO THOSE WHO OBEY.

“...and ye shall find rest for your souls...”

This rest comes to us when we are set free from all of those things that bring  anxiety and distraction to our souls.  It sets us free to worship and serve God without any distraction.

Galatians 5:1   “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Romans 8:1   “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Matthew 11:28-30   “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. {29} Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. {30} For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Hebrews 4:9-10   “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. {10} For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”
God does offer and promise REST to those who are tired and weary.  This offer Is extended to us through out the Word of God.

This rest comes to us by the way of:

1) forgiveness of sins.

2) obedience - belieivng the Word of Cod,

3) trusting our daily affairs with God.

4) daily communion with Christ.

How is it with you today? Have you really discovered those things that never change from generation to generation?
I invite you, right now, to give you life over to Jesus Christ, come what may.  For better or worse.  Allow Him to be the Lord of your life and lead you and give you the wisdom needed for each problem.  When you give youself, unreservedly to Jesus Christ you will discover what this REST is all about.  Then you will know that the “old ways” are truly the “good ways.”

(Joshua 24:15 KJV)  “. . . choose you this day whom ye will serve . . .but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Will you choose God’s way today?