RESTORING OF OLD
PATHS
INTRODUCTION
Restoring of old paths that constitutes a godly nation depends on the willingness of its people to reconnect to ways previously held. Ungodliness is seeded in the land as a cancerous growth that is difficult to remove; however, not impossible when God is instrumental in the restoration.
The Prophet Jeremiah attempted to awaken the people towards restoring of old paths in speaking the words of the Lord: Thus saith the Lord, stand in the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls, but they said, we will not walk therein (Jeremiah 6:16). It was noted that the people’s stubborn refusal to walk in the traditional ways of true righteousness was often mentioned by Jeremiah; that moving in their own paths and following their own way would only lead to destruction.
Restoring of Old Paths
Religious World
We are living in a very permissive day when the religious world is so tolerant to most any and all kinds of standards and lifestyles. It was noted that this permissiveness and tolerance is the result of a self-willed and carnal minded society.
As a result of such tolerance and permissiveness, there are many churches, and even denominations, which have altered their teachings, their standards, and even their interpretations of the Scriptures to please, to comply with and accommodate this permissive and tolerant society. Very few people this day hold to their heart’s convictions; they change to blend in with their environment.
Apostle Peter wrote: The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear (1 Peter 4:17-18). Restoring of old paths does not preclude the church.
Ungodly Influences
The restoring of old paths requires removal of such influences as Socialism and Marxism, cousins to Communism; Critical Race Theory (CRT), the Great Reset Plan, instituted by the World Economic Forum; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Transformation; to name but a few, that would upset the normality of life.
Goals include: Discredit family as an institution; control of the schools to use as tools for promoting ungodly agenda; break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography in books, magazines, motion pictures, and TV; infiltrate the press, gain control of key positions in government, radio, TV, and motion pictures; infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with social religion, and discredit the Bible.
Thank God, there is a willingness and ongoing effort to break away from ungodly avenues that would destroy a nation. However, such are deeply ingrained in immoral ideologies that are difficult to remove. They have become the mindset of a younger generation that have waived the instructive nature of the past towards what is viewed a better way.
Sounding the Alarm
The Prophet Jeremiah, revealing the words of the Lord, wrote: I set watchmen over you, saying, hearken to the sound of the trumpet; but they said, we will not hearken (Jeremiah 6:17). God has His watchmen sounding the alarm, but often the people will not hear, will not receive a call towards restoring of old paths to dwell in.
Jeremiah gave God's response towards failure of repentance and reconciliation: Hear, you nations, and know, O congregations, hear O earth; I will bring evil (calamity) upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts because they have not hearkened to my words, nor to my law, but rejected it (Jeremiah 6:18-19).
Restoring of old paths was declared by God to King Solomon: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). It was noted that while this was originally given to Solomon regarding the people of Israel, it is applicable to all who will call on the Lord in repentance and faith.
Need for Restoration
The need for restoring of old paths has been mentioned numerous times in the past. It was noted that we live in a fallen world that seeks to gratify and accommodate sins that would not have been discussed in public before. Given the rising problem of biblically literacy, the treat of false teaching is particularly challenging for the current generation of believers.
Sometime prior to his death, General Booth of the Salvation army, uttered this significant prophecy: I consider that the chief dangers that confront the coming century will be Religion without the Holy Ghost; Christianity without Christ; Forgiveness without regeneration; Morality without God; and Heaven without Hell.
It was noted that we are suffering from the corrosive immoral breath of the 21st century. The secularism, humanism, materialism, liberalism, and commercialism of our day have devastated our resources of security. I thank God that there are some, through godly intervention, that are changing the tune that was once played towards immorality.
Devices of the Enemy
Restoring of old paths entails not yielding to the those who seek to undermine moral upbringing; utilizing tools of deception to accomplish such a goal. Today, devices once established for the good of mankind, are now being utilized for immoral purposes. One such device, among many, is the Internet that with a simple touch of the finger opens the door of immorality without regard towards consequences for doing so.
We are witnessing what is presented as instructive and needful when in reality it is opening the door towards destructive ways which now necessities restoring of old paths to dwell in. There is a consumption of ungodliness that has become acceptable rather than rejected from youth to adulthood. Thank God for individuals who are taking a stand in opposition to such corrupt teaching and availability that would bring the downfall of a nation or individual.
Restoring of old paths to dwell in become necessary due to the failure of leadership worldwide, including Christian leaders, who have advocated their responsibility to uphold Biblical and moral instructions. There are many examples, throughout the Bible, of failed leadership resulting in the people following similar paths of their leader. There are appointments, and elections of public leaders who do not advocate morality in the land but rather the opposite.
Nineveh Type Repentance
Nineveh type repentance is needed towards the restoring of old paths to dwell in. Many nations previously under the umbrella of God’s protective hand have now distanced themselves from His abundant provision. Thank God for nations who have maintained the integrity of God; and others who are having a Nineveh type repentance and are on the pathway of restoration and reconciliation to God.
Scripture reveals the reaction of Nineveh towards God’s sent messenger (the Prophet Jonah) who sounded the alarm towards coming destruction. Scripture reveals that the people believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth (a sign of repentance), from the greatest of them (leaders of the land) even to the least of them (the population itself) (Jonah 3:5).
God saw their works (repentance) that they turned from their evil way; and God repented (relented) of the evil, that he had said He would do to them and did it not (Jonah 3:10). It was noted God did no change in His ultimate intention toward the Ninevites; rather, they changed in their attitude toward Him.
On the basis of that change, God could deal with them in grace, rather than in judgment as their failure to repent would have necessitated. Restoring of old paths requires a commitment as revealed to the Ninevites. I pray that those who have not awaken to the truth, a need towards restoring of old paths, will find their way through a reconciliation to God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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