I’m in Jeremiah 6, encountering a verse I first heard preached at the baccalaureate service for an Air Force Academy cadet we sponsored. The chaplain quoted:

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. ” (Jeremiah 6.16, NIV)

It’s a good word, but, unfortunately, the verse continues:

But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But you said, ‘We will not listen.’” (Jeremiah 6.16, 17, NIV)

Where is the good way? The ancient paths. And it’s not enough to know where the ancient paths are, we must walk in them.

Likewise, the trumpet sounds. People can’t help but hear a trumpet, but we must choose to pay attention.

What happens if we don’t? Jeremiah is clear:

Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not paid attention to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it. (Jeremiah 6.19, ESV)

Back to Romans 1…

They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (Romans 1.29 – 32, ESV, emphasis mine)

…and James…

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1.22, NIV)

…and Jesus:

But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards. (Matthew 7.26, 27, MSG)