At The Crossroads

Hear the word of the Lord and be warned. Jesus stands at the crossroads as your Good Shepherd to guide you to the House of the Lord. Those who reject Him and do evil will face consequences.

“Jehu wrote letters…to the elders and to the guardians of Ahab’s children. He said, When the letter arrived, these men took the princes and slaughtered all seventy of them…not a word the Lord has spoken against the house of Ahab will fail. The Lord has done what he announced…They brought the sacred stone out of the temple of Baal and burned it. They demolished the sacred stone of Baal and tore down the temple of Baal, and people have used it for a latrine to this day. So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel. The Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”
‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-30

How do you respond when reading this passage? Some people have a hard time with death in the Old Testament. They struggle to reconcile how Jesus loved sinners yet how stories of the Old Testament have so much bloodshed. Perhaps the connections of this day can help enlighten us so we can see the consistency of God.

God is righteous and just. He is love. He is truth and Spirit. He does not want anyone to perish. But God does not allow evil to go unpunished nor wickedness to be the way. He cleanses and purifies. He does not want evil to infect or wickedness to poison the people. It might not seem loving to kill off Ahab’s family, but can we see how eliminating evil could be protecting the community of people?

This way of thinking could easily be misrepresented or used to justify genocide and that is where understanding who God is makes all the difference. God does not sin nor ever use death to do wrong. He is the good Shepherd who guides, gives, restores, and was resurrected. But God does not allow evil. We must accept this truth. He hates sin especially when sin can harm others. Jehu purified to protect and do what was pleasing to God. What pleases God is seeing people who love Him fully and obey His commandments like Jesus.

God does not want to bring death, but we are warned of what will happen. We need to know that love holds each of us accountable to our choices. Wickedness and sin have consequences. This is not to say you should go be a crusader holding others accountable, rather God wants you to check your own heart. Where do you need to heed the warning? Where have you allowed evil in your life or turned from following Jesus?

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭6‬

Psalm 23 can take on a deeper richer meaning when connected with the other texts of today. Truth tells us that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He guides. He gives. He nourishes and protects. He anoints our heads and walks us through the hardest times.

What messages are particularly important when understanding how to purify your life and live faithfully with your Shepherd? Hear His words. He is with you. You lack nothing. Do not listen to the lies of fear. Fear no evil. You are safe and will have a full supply with your Heavenly Father.

If we think about what causes evil or why we go astray, what role do fear, scarcity, or feeling alone or on your own play in walking off the path of righteousness? Is it not when we hurry and worry that we do what is wrong? Is it not when we allow temptation in, do what we want, or pursue selfish desires that we sin?

Jesus wants you to know that all you will ever need is found in Him. All the peace, provision, power, and protection are found by paying attention to His presence and standing on His promises. You will lack nothing and will never be alone. What is He saying to you today? Can you hear His voice? Will you take His hand and let Him shepherd you?

“A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Evildoers foster rebellion against God; the messenger of death will be sent against them. Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the Lord detests them both. Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble. A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth. The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.” Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭4‬-‭27

Solomon said evildoers will be held accountable. The messenger of death comes because God hates acquitting the guilty. The messenger of death came to Ahab and to his family. It came to the worshipers of Baal and those who rejected God. This might seem harsh but if you go back to those texts you will see how many times God warned the people to turn back to Him.

This could stir up feeling of angst when we consider our own sin. But God loved us so much that He sent His Son that no one would perish. God did not acquit us, rather Jesus paid the price we owed and served our penalty to free us from eternal damnation. He shepherds us into a life where sin does not lead to separation. God is a just God, and Jesus fulfilled the righteous requirement of accountability. How should that truth change how deeply we trust our Shepherd?

“Shepherds with their flocks will come against her…This city must be punished; it is filled with oppression. As a well pours out its water, so she pours out her wickedness. Take warning, Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you and make your land desolate…To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. But I am full of the wrath of the Lord, and I cannot hold it in…From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain…all practice deceit…Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. 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. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it…Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me…Put on sackcloth, my people…for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.” Jeremiah‬ ‭6‬:‭3‬-26

We live in a world that tells you that you should do whatever you want. How is that working out for us? Our culture promotes hedonism and hard hearts. It ignores the poor and encourages evil. Need evidence? 90% of the world lives on a dollar a day. This is not right. We are not living in the Garden of Eden.

The issues of this world can be overwhelming, yet God brings revival to nations through individuals willing to respond. God always brings things back to our hearts, our own choices. We might not be able to help all people, but we can help one. If we are willing to stand at the crossroads, the roads that lead to the cross and point to the God who hung on the cross for us, we can see that ancient paths will lead to revival. God does not want to destroy us, He wants to direct us to rest, restoration, and the resurrected life.

But, we have a choice. We have to follow the Good Shepherd. What good is it to say Jesus is our Shepherd but not follow Him where He leads? Is He really Lord of our lives if we do not listen? Today is both an invitation and a warning. There are two paths at the crossroads. One leads to life and one leads to death. Which will you choose?

“A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed…the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’ “But when the tenants saw him…they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others…The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone…Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’ David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”…Beware of the teachers of the law. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” Luke‬ ‭20‬:‭9‬-‭47

At the Cross we see our Savior and Good Shepherd. The crossroads have always pointed to Christ. The ancient path is not merely a better way of living; it is a Person. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who calls His sheep by name, the Cornerstone rejected by the builders, the beloved Son sent by the Father, and the King who is worthy of all praise. It is all about Jesus.

Every warning in Scripture ultimately leads us to Him because God has always desired to rescue, restore, and reconcile His people through His Son. The voice calling from the crossroads is not the voice of condemnation but the voice of the Shepherd saying, Come follow Me.

Jesus does not just show us the way; He is the Way. He does not simply point us toward life; He is the Resurrection and the Life. He does not simply protect us from judgment; He willingly paid the price that was due for our judgment.

How do we respond? What is our action step? Start by listening to His voice. It was the word of God that led Jehu to purify the land and the word that led David to pen Psalm 23. Then obey. Follow. Do what He says knowing He is only working for your good according to God’s will. Do not fear evil nor follow the ways of the world. Walk with Him, remain in Him, draw closer to Him and surely goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life as you dwell in the House of the Lord forever.