The Old Paths, the Good Way

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. But they said, 'We will not walk in it' (Jeremiah 6:16).
 
We need to go back to true worship, simple faith, obedience to our Creator. Throughout the Psalms we are advised and inspired to meditate on God’s awesome power, His works, His grace, His righteousness, and His majesty. Throughout modern culture we are motivated and pressured into meditating on our potential, our righteousness, basically the power of ‘I am’ (some human-inspired book) rather than on the power of the ‘Great I Am’ (Exodus 3:14). Psalm 145 beautifully captures the essence of what our focus should be on: God’s greatness.

Metaphysics and New Thought and basically everyone, are trying to convince the world that if you just focus on ‘being’ and feeling good about yourself, well then you’re just golden, a righteous little nugget who deserves heaven/paradise/72 virgins/eternity of chocolates. And yet the bible clearly teaches us to focus on God’s goodness and power, and that we cannot earn our way into heaven (Titus 3:5, Romans 8:3-4, Acts 4:12, etc). Romans 10:3 provides unimpeachable God-given guidance that what the world is currently teaching is ignorant and flies in the face of our excellent Creator. ‘For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.’

Happy thoughts may lift you into the air, but they are not enough to get you to heaven, and they are little use (without selfless righteousness through submission to God’s will) to others. Verse 4 reinforces this: ‘For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.’ Without Christ we are unrighteous. Without Christ we have only empty words and no salvation. Turn to Christ and live, and there you will find true joy and rest.