Seeking Old Paths
Introduction. “For the 100 year anniversary of the Wright brothers flight, Ford spent $1.2 million, to create a 605 pound reproduction - with authentic spruce ribs and a wing span of 40 feet - matching the brothers' work down the thread count of the muslin covering its wings.”
This event reminded me of Jeremiah’s visit to the sons of Rechab (Jer. 35:1-19). In the midst of Israel’s rebellion, God used them to point out true faithfulness. “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, ‘Will you not receive instruction to obey My words?’ says the Lord. ‘The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; for to this day they drink none, and obey their father’s commandment. But although I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, you did not obey Me.’” (Jer. 35:13-14)
Ford knew that to understand the difficulties and really see what was done, they had to research and reproduce exactly what was done in 1903, even down to the number of threads in the fabric. Yet multitudes of those who claim to follow Jesus are not interested in exactly reproducing the plans Jesus created in the Scriptures for His church (Mt. 16:18; Eph. 3:9-10).
Jeremiah pleaded with Israel to do the very thing Ford did and they would not do it! “Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk in it’ ” (Jer. 6:16).
We extol the wisdom of Ford and though it cost over a million dollars, they followed the old paths and recreated the Wright brothers' plane. The sons of Rechab also knew it and followed exactly the instructions of their father. Those with the same wisdom today also know that to have the church Jesus’ died to purchase we must recreate it exactly as He revealed it.
Jesus' Warnings. Yet Jesus knew the hearts of all men. He knew of our propensity for change and conformity. He warned us of the dangers. He said “I never knew” those who say “Lord Lord” but do not research and do “the will of My Father in heaven” (Mt. 7:21-23). Jesus said that those who reject His words will find those very words judging and condemning them in the last day (Jn. 12:48). He said those who reject God’s ancient traditions to follow man’s new traditions are worshiping in vain (Mk. 7:6-12). Jesus also said if we research His Words and do them we are building on rock, but if we don’t research and do exactly as He said we are building on sand (Mt. 7:24-26).
The Apostles' Warnings. His apostles continued these warnings. Those who preach a different gospel are accursed (Gal. 1:6-9). Those who do not abide in the teachings of Christ don’t have God (2Jn. 9-11). Paul said “Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you” and “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” (1Cor. 11:2; 2Th. 2:15). These traditions were meant to be handed down through the centuries from one generation to the next. They are meant to be kept and held fast. We can compare their traditions with our own and know exactly whether we are doing God’s will or not.
David's Warnings. What Ford did was wise, right, and proper. No matter what the cost, if they were to reproduce exactly what they did so we can witness it today, it couldn’t be done any other way. Why can they see so clearly what multitudes today are missing? Even David found out that if we don’t take the time and effort to do things in the “prescribed way” it ends in tragedy. “The Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of Him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” (1Chr. 15:13). Why would it be any different today?
Conclusion. We can learn a lesson from a $1.2 million plane! Whatever the cost for doing the research and no matter how out of step His traditions appear today, God is glorified when we do it His way! This is why we preach baptism for remission of sins and oppose instrumental music. It is why we practice church autonomy and stand opposed to homosexuality. It is why our home is patterned after God’s order with the husband as the head of the wife and why women are not permitted to teach in the assembly. Human wisdom and innovation are anathema. We too go back to the original Creator and seek to recreate exactly want He did. In this way we have the same church in the 21st century that God created in the first.
This event reminded me of Jeremiah’s visit to the sons of Rechab (Jer. 35:1-19). In the midst of Israel’s rebellion, God used them to point out true faithfulness. “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, ‘Will you not receive instruction to obey My words?’ says the Lord. ‘The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; for to this day they drink none, and obey their father’s commandment. But although I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, you did not obey Me.’” (Jer. 35:13-14)
Ford knew that to understand the difficulties and really see what was done, they had to research and reproduce exactly what was done in 1903, even down to the number of threads in the fabric. Yet multitudes of those who claim to follow Jesus are not interested in exactly reproducing the plans Jesus created in the Scriptures for His church (Mt. 16:18; Eph. 3:9-10).
Jeremiah pleaded with Israel to do the very thing Ford did and they would not do it! “Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk in it’ ” (Jer. 6:16).
We extol the wisdom of Ford and though it cost over a million dollars, they followed the old paths and recreated the Wright brothers' plane. The sons of Rechab also knew it and followed exactly the instructions of their father. Those with the same wisdom today also know that to have the church Jesus’ died to purchase we must recreate it exactly as He revealed it.
Jesus' Warnings. Yet Jesus knew the hearts of all men. He knew of our propensity for change and conformity. He warned us of the dangers. He said “I never knew” those who say “Lord Lord” but do not research and do “the will of My Father in heaven” (Mt. 7:21-23). Jesus said that those who reject His words will find those very words judging and condemning them in the last day (Jn. 12:48). He said those who reject God’s ancient traditions to follow man’s new traditions are worshiping in vain (Mk. 7:6-12). Jesus also said if we research His Words and do them we are building on rock, but if we don’t research and do exactly as He said we are building on sand (Mt. 7:24-26).
The Apostles' Warnings. His apostles continued these warnings. Those who preach a different gospel are accursed (Gal. 1:6-9). Those who do not abide in the teachings of Christ don’t have God (2Jn. 9-11). Paul said “Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you” and “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” (1Cor. 11:2; 2Th. 2:15). These traditions were meant to be handed down through the centuries from one generation to the next. They are meant to be kept and held fast. We can compare their traditions with our own and know exactly whether we are doing God’s will or not.
David's Warnings. What Ford did was wise, right, and proper. No matter what the cost, if they were to reproduce exactly what they did so we can witness it today, it couldn’t be done any other way. Why can they see so clearly what multitudes today are missing? Even David found out that if we don’t take the time and effort to do things in the “prescribed way” it ends in tragedy. “The Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of Him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” (1Chr. 15:13). Why would it be any different today?
Conclusion. We can learn a lesson from a $1.2 million plane! Whatever the cost for doing the research and no matter how out of step His traditions appear today, God is glorified when we do it His way! This is why we preach baptism for remission of sins and oppose instrumental music. It is why we practice church autonomy and stand opposed to homosexuality. It is why our home is patterned after God’s order with the husband as the head of the wife and why women are not permitted to teach in the assembly. Human wisdom and innovation are anathema. We too go back to the original Creator and seek to recreate exactly want He did. In this way we have the same church in the 21st century that God created in the first.