Written By: Ken Burleson
“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” (Jeremiah 6:16).
There was a blessing to be had if they walked in the old paths. They had the promise of rest for their souls if they walked in the old paths. But they said “…we will not walk therein.” They could not expect to have rest for their souls, because they were not willing to walk in the old paths. It is hard to imagine one refusing such a wonderful blessing. It is a sad commentary but the majority of people are like that today. God has promised blessings for us if we will do his will. Many today, by word or action say, “we will not do his will.”
God has promised “…all spiritual blessings in Christ,” this centers upon the immediate blessings when we obey Him. He has promised eternal life to His children that remain faithful, this is a future blessing to be received at the judgement day.
All Spiritual Blessings
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
The spiritual blessings are many. The promise of receiving them is dependent upon being in Christ. When one hears the word of God and believes it, repents of his sins, confesses that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, he can be baptized into Christ. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Some of the spiritual blessings are as follows:
Redemption. One is redeemed through the blood of Christ. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7). One is redeemed through the blood of Christ when he obeys the gospel and if he walks in the light, His blood continues to cleanse him. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Forgiveness of sins. One of the greatest blessings in this life is the forgiveness of sins. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized eveiy one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). Jesus shed His blood so that man can have remission of sins. “For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28).
Fellowship. This too is a great blessing to man. By having fellowship, we draw strength from one another that we may be able to cope with the evils of the day. It is obvious, by the failure to take advantage of the opportunities to have fellowship, that many do not realize the importance and benefits of it. If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have the blessing of fellowship. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). If we are in fellowship with God then we have fellowship with all who are in fellowship with Him.
Peace with God. When one obeys the gospel and lives faithful to God he has peace that no one outside of Christ has. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). The peace that comes through knowing that our sins are forgiven is a tremendous blessing that comes from God. What a reward! We have peace that passeth all understanding. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
Salvation. One who is lost is alienated from God, in darkness, without hope and without God. When he by obedience to God’s will is saved he has: God, fellowship with God, hope, and is no longer in darkness but in light. A wonderful blessing indeed.
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16).
It is by the grace of God that salvation came. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). In order for man to have salvation he must apply the grace of God by obedience to God’s will.
Eternal Life
Though eternal life is a spiritual blessing yet to come, it stands as the ultimate of all blessings. If one has been blessed with all the spiritual blessings mentioned under the preceding point, then eternal life will be that final reward at the judgement day. “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:21).
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
“…Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13). “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46).
The rewards of walking in the old paths are many. God has promised these rewards and if we do His will, we will receive them. When God makes a promise we can be sure that He will keep it. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
May we be encouraged to walk in the old paths! (4217 Hwy. 39 N, Meridian, MS 39301)
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