At the Crossroads ...

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  • At the Crossroads ...
    At the Crossroads ...
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“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. Jer. 6:16

As we approach the New Year, maybe you are like me and you wonder what will happen in 2022. I don’t know about you, but I hope that things are better. I hope that COVID is finally beaten and we no longer live in fear of contracting this virus. I hope that the world finds a way to love one another rather than hating each other because of differences. I hope that the people of Littlefield live with a sense of joy and peace in their hearts knowing that God will never leave them or forsake them. And as a pastor, it is my biggest hope that all people here and everywhere come to the saving knowledge of Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

I could go on and on about the good things that I hope for, but above is some of the biggest hopes I have for you and for me. So rather than making some kind of resolution, maybe we should ask the question of how could this list of hopes ever come to pass? For me, the answer comes from the scripture I quoted above. You see, so often we look for the latest and newest best thing to solve our problems, when the truth is the real answer for the completeness of our hopes lies in a story from over 2000 years ago and really even beyond that! We are always at a crossroads as human beings. We stand at points in our lives where we either choose the ways of God or what is happening in our culture which moves us into false idols. Jeremiah urged us long ago when we stand at these crossroads, to choose the ancient paths. In other words, choose the ways of God. The ways that many a man and woman have chosen through thousands of years and found what Jesus described as the “Abundant Life.” That life is full of Peace, and overflowing with Joy no matter what the external circumstances we face. That life, that ancient path is found only in Jesus Christ. Jesus once said “enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Mt. 7:13 I think it contrasts very well with the direction that Jeremiah was pointing to long ago. At that time, he was actually pointing to the covenant God made with his people and urging them to go back to those ways, but unknowingly he was also pointing for us to Jesus who fulfilled every bit of the most ancient and is still doing so today. He is the one and only path to find rest for your souls! In Jesus lies the hope of 2022 and any other year for that matter!

So, if you have been struggling for many years and continually making the wrong choices that have brought you to the point of dreading the New Year, might I just remind you that today you stand at the crossroads, and if you will look to the cross and proclaim Jesus as Lord, you will find rest for your soul in 2022! Happy New Year!!!

(Editor’s Note: This column is written by a different Littlefield pastor for the Leader-News each week. The columns are published on this page on Wednesdays.)