At a Crossroad

The young man stood at the crossroad with his suitcase on the dirt beside him.  Anyone else would be lost, but he knew this place.  One only had to look to see the old oak tree in the pasture.  It was the one he and his brothers had climbed when they were only boys.  The road to his right would take him home. 
But did he want to go home?  What waited for him there?  It had been such a long time since he had seen the little farmhouse.  He couldn’t see it now from where he was, but he knew it was there-and he knew deep down what waited for him.  Daddy was waiting for him.  He had been calling for him, asking him to come home.
  So, here he was-at the crossroad.  He could take the road to the left. That choice meant he would give in to the guilt attached to his mistakes. He would walk away from reconciliation.  It might be easier-if only for the moment. But he would live in regret for the rest of his life. Or he could turn right and head toward the peace and rest he sought.
He bowed his head for a moment, took a breath, then looked up. Sure. Confident. Knowing. He picked up the suitcase, checked his path, and walked ahead.  He felt good.  It felt right.  He was going home!

“This is what the LORD says: “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. “

Jeremiah 6:16

Are you at a crossroad? Do you have a decision to make? Not sure which way to go? Which is the best way? What if…? There can be an infinite combination of what ifs, but Jeremiah 6:16 gives us clear direction on what to do when faced with a tough decision. God is not the God of what ifs. He is the God of This is what…

So let’s break it down a bit with a word study.

1. Stand-Stop. Wait. Stand Still. Listen. Raise yourself up and station yourself before the King as one ready for service.
2. Look-inspect, observe, consider, discern (detect with senses other than sight), look intently at, behold and gaze face to face
3. Ask- to pray, seek, question, earnestly inquire
4. Walk– Go, move

What we have been given in Jeremiah is step by step instructions for crossroad decision making. Don’t jump the gun or fly off on a whim when at the crossroad. Stand still. Breathe. Listen for HIS voice. If you are wallowing in the dirt because you just don’t know what else to do, get up! Dust yourself off and present yourself before your King, ready for service.

Then take some time to look at your situation-not just with your physical eyes, but with spiritual ones. Get in the presence of God in prayer. Seek His face just as a child would as she turns the face of her father toward her to gain his full attention. Position yourself before Him. This is earnest and fervent prayer (James 5:16) It is here we ask God to reveal the ancient paths-the ones that are lasting and eternal, paths which bring with them both the benefits of past experiences and the plans of a hope and future. (Jeremiah 29:11) We ask where. Where is the better way?

He WILL answer you. (Jeremiah 33:3 and Matthew 7:7-8) It is up to you to choose to walk that way. Only you can make the choice, pick up your suitcase and move forward.

Have you chosen the wrong road? Got turned around a bit? You are not so lost HE cannot find you. You are not so powerful, my friend, that you can destroy your life beyond the help of God. Just stand, look, ask, and walk. Choose the good way! There you will find rest for your soul.