The Old Path

Jeremiah 6:16 says, “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

The Model T Ford did much to change our lifestyle in America and around the world. It brought about the end of the horse-and-buggy days. Some people were not ready to accept the change, however. They claimed that speeds of 30 mph would blast air into your lungs to the extent you couldn’t breathe. In time, the Model T days were over and speed and comfort became more important. My dad lived through this era and claimed the Model T was the best car ever built. He said the only changes he would make to it would be sealed-beam headlights and hydraulic brakes.

Nahum prophesied of a time when, “The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings” (Nahum 2:4). 

What will it take to make us slow down? Maybe we need to ask for the old paths. God has the answer for our troubled world. He calls out, “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths.” We don’t need more thrills, more comfort or more money. What we need is rest for our souls. There is an old path that invites us to enjoy rest for our souls.

“The Old Country Church” song was first written by J.W. Vaughan in 1934. It begins with, “There’s a place dear to me where I’m longing to be with my friends at the old country church.” Later, J.D. Sumner wrote a song called, “The Old Country Church.” Its first verse is, “Oh! I’d like to go back to that old country church, and to hear the songs of praise.” The old country church didn’t have much to offer in the way of comfort. The pews were hard. It was cold in the winter and hot in the summer. There was not a P.A. system or other modern technology. Yet there was rest for the soul.

There was a little white church in Milton-Freewater, Oregon that I went to as a young man. I had a summer job, and was living with my grandparents. Away from home, and somewhat on my own, the church offered a special comfort to me. It was like an old path to me. I had a church back home that I grew up in, but I was drawn to this little white church. There was not a youth program, potlucks, or special events that I was aware of. There was Sunday School, the morning and evening preaching services, and prayer meeting.

Why would a teenage boy be drawn to something like this? First, the pastor, T.O. Weatherby, preached a powerful Bible message. Second, they had a prayer meeting. In one of these small prayer meetings, I unexpectedly met my future bride. It was there I found lifelong friends. It was there I found rest for my soul.

The little white church didn’t survive. It was finally sold. The pastor is in heaven with Jesus. It was there I was called to preach the “Old Path” gospel. It was there I preached my first sermon. The best path is still the Old Path!