There is a place where our souls feel at home.
In Hebrew it is called margowa – a resting place. There is only one place in the Bible where this word is used…
Thus says the Lord,
“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,
Where the good way is and walk in it;
And you will find rest (margowa – resting place) for your souls.”
Jeremiah 6:16 NASB
What is your resting place?
For a bird, it is a branch of a tree where she can build her nest.
For a ship, it is the port or a safe harbour.
For a thirsty desert dweller, it is a refreshing oasis.
For the war refugee, it’s resettlement in a safe country.
For the crying little girl, it’s her mother’s arms.
For God’s child….it is on the ancient paths.
What a promise! What an invitation!
Covid 19 has provided a standing place. Most of our activity has paused. Here is a wonderful opportunity to see and ask in this standing place.
What are we looking and asking for?
…the ancient paths.
…the good ways.
The Hebrew word for ancient is olam which means eternity and forever.
Ancient, in our western mindset, relates to a distant time in the past but for the eastern mindset it also includes the future.
It’s time and space beyond the field of vision.
Its a time hidden from the present.
It’s unknown.
This reminds me of Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are no earth”
It’s a call to lift our heads and hearts for a new vision.
It’s an invitation for reset.
To see into the unseen where faith and love dwells.
To see with the eyes of the Father.
The things we see around us, are all temporary.
The things we don’t see, they are forever.
If that is true, wouldn’t it change how we live?
What if we saw the opportunities for eternity when speaking with our neighbours?
What if we viewed our money worries in light of our heavenly citizenship?
What if we see Jesus’ scars and counted our wounds as healed? They may not be healed on earth but with the glasses of eternity on, they are.
Here’s the thing. Caterpillars are earthly. Bound to crawling on dirt and leaves. Then they are called into a transforming place. It’s dark. Probably painful. But one day a crack will open up. Light will flood in. And what was earthly will become heavenly. Earthy tones will bloom into heaven’s rainbow colours. Crawling turns into flying. Ground stuck transforms to space travel.
Not only is this a wonderful invitation, it is also a warning.
Jeremiah 6:16 ends with this sentence…
“But they said, We will not walk in it”
How sad. God’s people rejected the ancient paths. The Unseen Things. The Forever.
Let that not be said of us.
Action Step: Use this time, this standing place, to reset your soul. Ask God for the ancient paths that he has opened up in your life right now.
If you can’t perceive them, ask for his eyes to see them.
Write Jeremiah 6:16 out on a card and use it as a reminder to look up, and take the good way.
This may involve…
forgiveness,
confession,
renewing the mind,
casting worries,
praises and thanksgiving,
receiving wisdom,
enjoying God’s love and presence in the daily.
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