So much of what we see in the church world today, is not new. In fact, God’s people have gone astray many times. Far back in the Old Testament, there was a prophet who wept for what he saw in the house of the Lord. Even after Jesus came, the church of that time was not any different.

It shakes us to realize, that much of what we see transpiring now, is actually so much like what He saw in His own Father’s house; and among those who walked about in such a pious kind of manner.

There are some things this prophet said about those who were called to be the children of God. “From the least of them, unto the greatest of them, every one is given to covetousness,” Jeremiah 6:13. It is up to each one of us, to search out what this is talking about in this one verse. He went on to say, “And from the prophet even unto the priest, every one dealeth falsely.” They had turned aside from the path they once followed. There was a call that went out, for them to return to the real things of the Lord; seeking after Him.

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. The answer they gave back, is one we see in many places today. “But they said, we will not walk therein,” Jeremiah 6:1.

I think it is right to continue on with what the word of the Lord said to the people there. I set watchmen over you, and you were told to harken [listen] to the sound of the trumpet. “But they said, we will not harken.” The watchmen whom God had appointed for our time, tried to stand up, and deliver the word of the Lord to us. At first, we all listened. Was it covetousness that changed us; what happened.

Some will rightfully ask, what kind of old paths are we talking about here? Many took a turn, that gradually led us away, from the very thing it was all supposed to be about anyway.

In the Revelation 2:4, Christ said, we left it. We didn’t lose it in one sense, we slowly walked away and left it. Our first love, in the beginning, was Jesus Christ. When we first got the Holy Ghost, the love we had for this Jesus, was so intense and it not only filled us up completely, it also ran over and touched anyone we encountered. The way He loved us, caused us to love one another; in ways we never knew before.

We followed the Holy Ghost, down the path He wanted to go. To go in a different direction, never even entered our minds. We had an ear and an eye for Him; we listened, because we wanted to hear; and seeing Him perform and demonstrate His power, was one of our greatest joys we had ever known. We lived for it, and we thrived on it. God’s Word, was our true diet; and we grew. We went down a path, that led us to rejoice with those of us who had been given inspiration and gifts. Why? Because we all learned so much; and just seeing the Spirit at work, lifted us to higher heights.

It took tribulation and extreme tests, to cause many of us to turn, and start back down the path toward where He wanted us to be; and where He wanted us to go. We’re not talking about the path of men’s ways; nor the commandments that they have invoked, on those who have sought to serve the Lord. Too many were hurt and left deserted, over things the scriptures did not teach. Allowing the people of God, to search out the Word for themselves, and to be led and taught by the Holy Ghost, is a path, we must get back on.

As Jeremiah spoke of, we need to stand and look for the ways of the Lord. We have to ask for the old paths. It is the good way, and we need to walk in it. “And ye shall find rest, for your souls.” Our first priority, is to repent. Then we need to get up, and love each other, as He loved us. That kind of love, that would make you lay down your life, for a friend. We must travel down that path, that leads away from promoting self; the one that helps us remember, what He did for all of us. But they said, we will not walk therein.

~ Robert Blackburn

Robert Blackburn