“Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.'” (Jeremiah 6:16)

The context of the preceding verse is the imminent destruction of Jerusalem during the lifetime of Jeremiah due to the sins of the people. God sent Jeremiah and other prophets to call people to repent, to turn back to God, and to live according to God’s ways. But just like in the Garden of Eden, the people chose to believe the serpent. They believed a lie and the father of lies, the devil. They thought they knew better than God. They thought they’d be just fine without God at the helm of their lives and as the anchor of their souls.

God was gracious to send prophets like Jeremiah and others to speak forth the words of God. To do what? To plead with people to “ask for the ancient paths.” That is, to seek wisdom, to obey God. And to do what when those ancients paths are revealed? To walk in them. To apply that theology. And what will come if people walk in wisdom? Rest for their souls.

But if there’s one characteristic of the fallen human heart it is this: obstinacy. “We will not walk in it,” (Jeremiah 6:16b). That’s fallen man’s posture. The shaking of the fist in the face of God and gritting of the teeth and rebelling.

And so when you see leftist cities overrun with crime, when you see godless governments go from working for the people to canceling people, seizing their assets, and incarcerating them, you should not be surprised. It’s symptomatic of spiritual rebels screaming, “We will not walk in it.”

I have to laugh when I see biological men compete as women and then naturally dominate the sporting events. Why complain? You said there was no difference between men and women, right? Non-binary, you said.

When you defund police and then watch as your cities degenerate into Thugville, why complain? You got what you asked for. “We will not walk in it.” That’s your mantra. Behold, the fruit of thy ways.

It’s an old story but one which most refuse to learn. And so the headlines and obituaries and persecutions and cancellations continue. The state grows bigger; governments squash the individual because the individual will not govern himself.

Obstinacy against wisdom, against the ancient path, against God, has consequences. But most refuse to listen.

And when it comes to your doorstep, it’ll be too late.

Meanwhile the prophets have been canceled or worse. Because the people chose obstinacy and now they are reaping their rewards in full. Lord, have mercy. We have lost our way. Obstinacy vs. redemption via the gospel. We are reaping the whirlwind.