This is what the LORD says:
Jeremiah 6:16 NIV
“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.’
How often have you come to an intersection on a road or trail and been confused about which direction to go? Making the right choice will get you to your desired destination. Making the wrong choice will lead to getting lost. Following good guidance will help ensure you stay on the right course.
But this principle is not just applicable to navigating along physical roads or trails. It is good advice for living life. How often do we come to crossroads in life? Where we are faced with two or more choices. It could be about a job, a relationship, a significant purchase, or some activity. Our choice could have long-term consequences, so making the right one is important.
And that is what the Lord is saying here to Israel. They had been following the wrong road and were heading for a cliff. But, even as they came to the brink of that cliff, it was not too late. They could still ask for the “Good Way,” the way to life, follow it, and avoid the disaster awaiting them.
This message God gave to Israel applies to all who find themselves heading down the wrong road. You may never have been on the road that leads to life. Or you may have been lured off of that road. But, as long as you have physical life, it is never too late to seek and follow God’s way, the road that leads to life. And when you do, you will find rest for your souls. But don’t be like the one at the end of this verse who refuses to change direction. Their end is destruction.
