‘And to this people you shall say: “Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.”‘ (Jeremiah 21:8 ESV).
Jeremiah was given the difficult task of prophesying that Jerusalem would fall to the Chaldeans (Babylonians). They could not win a fight against the besieging army because God Himself had sent them as an instrument of His wrath. If they chose to stay and fight, they would die. But if they chose to surrender to the Chaldeans, they would live. Jeremiah boldly preached, describing the “way of life” and the “way of death” to them.
Being called to preach God’s judgment against his own nation was a heavy burden for Jeremiah. Yet, a true prophet, a true preacher, must put God first above all worldly concerns. God calls His ambassadors to declare the “way of life” and to warn of the “way of death” without regard to political correctness and affiliation.
Jesus spoke of these two ways in His Sermon On The Mount, He said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matt. 7:13-14).
Which way are you going? Are you telling others about the two ways that are set before them?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we have chosen to follow the way of life through Jesus, Your Son. Strengthen us to warn others of the way of death and to tell the Good News of the way of life. In Jesus’ name, amen.