The Good Way

Thursday, June 8, 2017, 8:08 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Jeremiah 6 (quoting vv. 13-20 NASB).

No Peace (vv. 13-15)

“For from the least of them even to the greatest of them,

Everyone is greedy for gain,

And from the prophet even to the priest

Everyone deals falsely.

“They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially,

Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’

But there is no peace.

“Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done?

They were not even ashamed at all;

They did not even know how to blush.

Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;

At the time that I punish them,

They shall be cast down,” says the Lord.

According to the news, there have been numerous terrorist attacks, of late, in the capital cities of at least four countries: London, UK (March 2017); Paris, France (April 2017); Stockholm, Sweden (April 2017); London, UK (June 2017); and Tehran, Iran (June 2017), among others. There have also been cries for solidarity with these nations, i.e. for “unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group” (Google). And, there has been numerous calls for the obliteration of terrorism, and for world peace and tolerance. And, by tolerance they mean broad-mindedness and acceptance of all religions as viable, and acceptance of and lenience towards sinful lifestyles.

All of this, I believe, is intentional and well-orchestrated, and its intention is to bring the world together as one, in unity under a one world government and a one world religion. In other words, this is the work of the New World Order “beast,” who (or which) has been using the US government and its military, and their allies, as well as hired guns (terrorists for hire), to force or to coerce independent nations, peoples, and people of faith, particularly Christians, to bow to this “beast,” and to unify with this New World Order in giving up sovereignty, human rights, and our faith, so that we can join hands across this globe singing “Kumbaya.” It is not terrorism they want to obliterate, though, since they support it, but all opposing forces to the rule of this “beast.” They want to do away with the gospel of Jesus Christ, too.

They are building a case for the need for “world peace,” but it will come at a price, and that is the cost of sacrificing faith, principle, standards, and doctrine. And, this has been developing within the church, particularly inside the institutional church, for some time now. By turning the church into a business and/or a social or civic organization, and by, thus, targeting the world as their customer base, they have diluted the gospel message to make it more appealing to the world, and to where it will soon fit well within this “tolerance” and “world peace” theme. So many preachers now are preaching a gospel which turns into a broad road that many travel, instead of the narrow road that few find. They preach that all one has to do is to acknowledge Jesus’ existence, and accept his forgiveness of their sins, and they are saved, secured, and bound for heaven when they die.

They put Band-Aids over serious sin issues, and they promise them heaven and eternal life with God. But, they tell them God requires nothing of them – no repentance, no obedience to the Word of God, and no surrender or submission to Christ and his cross. There is no death to sin in this gospel, thus there can be no life in the Spirit, either. It is all human-based faith, which is useless, because it does not slay the sinner (put sin to death), but it entertains him with feel-good messages to tickle itching ears. And, one day the adherents of this false grace gospel will hear, “Depart from me, I never knew you,” rather than “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

The Ancient Paths (vv. 16-17)

Thus says the Lord,

“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,

Where the good way is, and walk in it;

And you will find rest for your souls.

But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

“And I set watchmen over you, saying,

‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’

But they said, ‘We will not listen.’

So, the good counsel here is to seek after the “ancient paths,” where the “good way” is, and to walk (live, conduct our lives) in it. What this is speaking of is the way of holiness and the path of righteousness and godliness, and obedience to Christ, and surrender to his cross, i.e. to death to sin and to living to righteousness. In other words, we must die with Christ to sin and be resurrected with Christ to newness of life, created to BE LIKE HIM in TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS (See: Eph. 4:17-24; Ro. 6).

Jesus said that if we want to come after him we must deny self and take up our cross daily (die daily to sin and self) and follow (obey) him. He said if we hold on to our old lives (of living for sin and self), we will lose them (we die in our sins). But, if we lose our lives for his sake, i.e. if we die with him to sin, we will gain eternal life (Lu. 9:23-25). Paul reiterated this message when he said that the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us who walk (in lifestyle) not according to our flesh, but according to the Spirit. For, if we walk according to the flesh, we will die in our sins, but if by the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, we will live with Christ for eternity (Ro. 8:1-14). John said that if we say we have fellowship with God, but we walk (conduct our lives) in darkness (sin), we are liars (1 Jn. 1:6).

If we walk (in lifestyle) in the “ancient paths,” i.e. in the way of holiness, we will find rest for our souls. To be holy means to be set apart (unlike, different) from the world of sin because we are being made into the likeness of Christ. Too many are preaching a false grace gospel which does not lead people to live holy lives, but which coddles them in their sinful lifestyles. And, they will never find rest for their souls, because they are continually wandering off to follow what is unholy, ungodly, unrighteous and immoral. Even though they know the truth (many do), they will not listen to the truth.

Sowing and Reaping (vv. 18-20)

“Therefore hear, O nations,

And know, O congregation, what is among them.

“Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringing disaster on this people,

The fruit of their plans,

Because they have not listened to My words,

And as for My law, they have rejected it also.

“For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba

And the sweet cane from a distant land?

Your burnt offerings are not acceptable

And your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me.”

We read in Galatians 6: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (vv. 7-8).

God is not interested in what we are willing to do for him, of our own choosing. He is not pleased by the self-imposed sacrifices we are willing to make, or by our religious performances. What pleases him is when we honor and respect him as Lord of our lives, and when we humbly submit ourselves to obeying His Word, His Will, and His Ways, and to walk in them every day.

Jesus, I am Resting, Resting  

Jean Sophia Pigott

Jesus, I am resting, resting,

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.

Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,

And Thy beauty fills my soul,

For by Thy transforming power,

Thou hast made me whole.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,

Vaster, broader than the sea!

O, how marvelous Thy goodness,

Lavished all on me!

Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,

Know what wealth of grace is Thine,

Know Thy certainty of promise,

And have made it mine.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,

I behold Thee as Thou art,

And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,

Satisfies my heart;

Satisfies its deepest longings,

Meets, supplies its every need,

Compasseth me round with blessings:

Thine is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me

As I work and wait for Thee;

Resting ‘neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,

Earth’s dark shadows flee.

Brightness of my Father’s glory,

Sunshine of my Father’s face,

Keep me ever trusting, resting,

Fill me with Thy grace.

Jesus, I am resting, resting,

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.