“WE WILL NOT”

by Kevin V. Rutherford

The people of Judah had turned completely away from God. They had put their trust in pagan idols and turned their lives over to immorality. They had begun to engage in terrible abominations and they were not at all ashamed of what they were doing (Jeremiah 6:15). For this God intended to destroy Judah through the nation of Babylon unless Judah would repent.

To give the people of Judah an opportunity to repent God sent his prophet Jeremiah to warn the people. The young prophet said, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16). God was offering them salvation. They simply needed to return to Him to be saved. And yet, they bluntly replied, “We will not walk in it” (Jeremiah 6:16). Jeremiah said, walk in the old paths, and the people said “we will not.” This is blatant and stubborn rebellion against the sovereign rule, power, and authority of God. For this they were destroyed.

Members of the church of Christ today are God’s Israel. We must make sure that we do not leave the truth (the old paths). If we choose to leave the truth we will be in danger of eternal punishment (2 Peter 2:20-22; Galatians 5:4). Let us remain true to the “old paths” by walking according to the pattern set forth for the church in the New Testament (Romans 6:17).