At The Forked Road

During the Second World War, one of the ways to get the invading army frustrated was to remove the signboards and road directions. Without these, it would take a longer time to navigate to the desired destinations. When we are traveling in a foreign place, we put our faith on those signboards to show us the correct way around. In life, we have our goals and plans. We then set up markers to check and to give us a sense of direction. It would be very sad to discover that we (as a group of people) have lost our bearings. Formerly, familiar markers along the way had guided our personal and social lives. Now disoriented, we no longer trust the guideposts and grope in bewilderment toward an unimagined destination. Claiming to be living in a modern society, we have men and women straining unavailingly for glimpses of recognizable landmarks. This was what Jeremiah said about the society of his time. God inspired Jeremiah to write this, so it is applicable from his time to ours and the future. Is our society different from that of Jeremiah's time? No! As in the time of Jeremiah, we still need landmarks. Jeremiah wrote: "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" (Jer 6:16).

When we are at a forked road, we are to stand and look first. For this reason, there is traffic light or "Stop" sign so that we will stop and look first before we blindly get into the wrong direction or get into the way of another oncoming vehicle. In our lives, we come to a forked road all the time. We need to ponder and then move on with whatever decisions we have made. The church is also standing at the forked road. Will we glorify God in our worship, or will we entertain ourselves? Will we bear witness to the law of God and the grace of the Gospel, or will we tone down our message so as not to offend anyone? Will we defend the doctrine of justification alone, or will we add works to grace? Do we serve God or do we serve ourselves? Whom will you put first in your plans? Whose interest would be in priority when we say or do something? We face these questions when we are at every forked road.

Some of us wonder what God wants us to do with our lives. Others contemplate a change of career, or the pursuit of a new education opportunity, or the possibility of marriage, or a change in the ministry within the church or contemplating on the hot topic of retirement. Still there are others struggling and wrestling with their spiritual lives. The first thing to do is to recognize that we are at the forked road. Two or multiple roads stretch before you. You can only go in one direction. Your destiny will depend on which route you have chosen. It is a difficult choice indeed! Stop and Look!

After we take the first step to stop and to look, we are to ask for the old paths. Asking for the old paths is not asking for nostalgic memories and looking at life in retrospect (regardless if it is with regret or with joy). It is asking God for the path forward. The old path is the old way. It is the biblical way. Why did the people during Jeremiah's time fall into misery and disarray? It was because they did not follow the old path. Jeremiah explains in 6:19 "… because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it." If we make a bad choice we too will be moving towards the broad way to misery. Jeremiah is writing to warn us not to fall into the same folly of going our own way while rejecting that of God's. Others have walked the old paths and have found joy. For example, Paul followed as the Lord directed. It was not a smooth sailing, sunshine road but it was God's way and Paul was delighted to follow. Today, we are encouraged because we can learn from Paul. He overcame all obstacles and difficulties because God has a higher purpose and helped him to win in the battle against these elements. Paul knew that God was leading his pathway so he was full of confidence, come what may. "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD" (Ps 119:1). Paul was delighted as he sojourned on this earth. "Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight" (Ps 119:35).

We therefore can learn from the past without living in the past. Like Paul, as we walk along our pathway, we face issues that may be beyond our means to find resolutions. Since God created us and as Jesus lived as a man He fully understands our needs. God sends people to aid us. "Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet" (Jer 6:17a). We have spiritual leaders who are there to guide us (to those in leadership, take heed to be very careful and prayerful as your burden is really heavy. Be faithful and do not slack!). So when we are at the forked road say this prayer as the Psalmist wrote in 119:133 "Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me."

Adapted from Calvary B-P Church Encouragement Page, 9th Sept 2007.
Written by Elder Foong Kon Yu.