“Thus says the Lord:
Stand at the crossroads and look,
    and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way lies; and walk in it,
    and find rest for your souls.
But they said, “We will not walk in it.” – Jeremiah 6:16

The Hebrew word,” crossroads” here is better rendered as “a journey, a course of life, mode of action.” What the Lord is saying through the prophet is to stop along the way or journey one is on, for it has come to a decision point. The Hebrew word rendered “see” implies looking closely to inspect, perceive, and consider. For what is one to look closely and consider at this decision point in the journey?

We are to see and ask for the good way. This “good way” is a theme in the scriptures that first appears in Genesis 3 and continues through to the end of the Revelation. Once found, we are to walk in that good way.

The Hebrew term for ‘the good way” here is the same term used when, after Adam’s rebellion and banishment, our God placed the angel to guard the “good way” to the Tree of Life. Of course, the Tree of Life, which is found only in Genesis and Revelation, is a type of Christ Jesus, the source of life. The way unto Christ is the good way of life.

Jesus Himself has always been the “the way, the truth, and the life” from our God. He does not tell of the way, the truth, or the life. He does not show the way, or simply speak the truth, or explain the life. The good way has a name – Jesus. The truth for which people seek has a name – Jesus. The life promised to us, the unlimited divine life, has a name – Jesus.

Jesus spoke of this way in Matthew 7: “Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Yes, while it is the good way it is at the same time the “hard” way – literally the narrow or constricted way. What makes it “strait” or constricted is that it is the way of self-denial and total surrender to our God.

Our rebellious bent wants little to do with such whole-of-life surrender, and many there are that choose to avoid this good way. They opt instead for the broad and easy way of self-management (rebellion in its most basic form) that leads to destruction. The constricted way is the way of rest, for it is lived not by the traveler but by Christ in the traveler. The easy and broad way has no rest for any souls, for they remain restless apart from the presence of Christ.

One is to ask if not insist upon the the ancient path, the good way. That way is Jesus Himself living in the traveler. Once found, the traveler is enjoined to walk in that way, to walk in Christ. Not walk like Christ or behind Him. We are to walk in Him. Only by walking in Him do we apprehend the living Spirit of Truth living in us – Christ Himself. Only by walking in Him do we find the Life of God within us.

The result will be to find rest for one’s soul. Jesus spoke of this good way in Matthew 11: “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”