When God’s people recognize that the path of the society around them is collapsing, the prophets of the Bible give us an unmistakably clear assignment, if we’re willing to accept it… Be a generation called to rebuild the ancient paths.

The confusion and uncertainty assaulting humanity worldwide today is being identified by many as an all-out strategy of destructive warfare from the Enemy of mankind himself.  So, what is the ‘assignment’ God has for His people in the middle of such alarming chaos?

The 58^th chapter of the prophet Isaiah declares clearly, Almighty God’s displeasure with the superficial, self-centered, and hypocritically empty religious rituals of His people. Instead, He desires a deeper and personally more authentic form of worship, defined by distinctive actions. And biblical worship – let’s not miss it – is a sacrificially devoted spiritual life-style, not just a weekly religious exercise. 

When you examine Isaiah 58 .. let God’s Spirit show you where your life can better express what God identifies as “the fast” that He chooses.  That kind of a Messiah-following discipleship is characterized by several features. All of them require some effort and humbly asking God for personal direction.  Remember one of the central themes of the Bible: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct (or make straight) your paths” (Proverbs 3:6).  Your what?  Your PATHS.

1. Justice and righteousness is high on His list: Can we do anything to break the chains of injustice? Are there oppressed people whom we can help to free?  Can we remove blame shifting and speaking wickedness? (read Isaiah 58:6-9).
2. Caring for the vulnerable is naturally a priority with God: Can we find ways to share our food with the hungry?  Can we invite a poor homeless one into our home?  What about clothing those who are truly naked and needy? (read Isaiah 58:7). If we do, He promises “your light will break out like the dawn” (vs 8)… “you will call and the LORD will answer” (vs 9).
3. Humility and sincerity are traits deserving our daily introspection: We just cannot allow ourselves to use devotional sacrifices like fasting as an excuse to exploit workers, or quarrel with others, or engage in self-righteousness (read Isaiah 58:3-5).
4. True selfless devotion is assured God’s special turn arounds in your life: Fasting accompanied by “giving yourself” to those in need and “satisfying the desire of the afflicted” will result eventually in “your light rising out of darkness” and “your gloom becoming like midday.” (read Isaiah 58:10).

When we embrace this kind of vitality in our connection to our Creator, we become an extension of His redeeming nature to the world around us. In fact, He promises a very special honor in verse 12.

Isaiah 58:12

“Those from among you Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets (paths) in which to Dwell.”

In contrast to the superficial and ritualistic practices that are so common among religious people, God’s acceptable fasting is a life style with defined actions.

• It’s accompanied by a desire to break free from sin and oppression (Isaiah 58:6)
• It’s marked by a willingness to serve and care for others (Isaiah 58:7)
• It’s characterized by humility and a recognition of one’s own sinfulness (Isaiah 58:3-5)
• It’s focused on seeking God’s presence and guidance, rather than personal gain or recognition (Isaiah 58:9)

In essence, the message of Isaiah 58 is that true worship and fasting must be accompanied by a deep commitment to justice, compassion, and humility. Only then can we, God’s people, honestly expect to experience His personal presence and blessing.  Of course, this is the very heart of the gospel that Jesus taught in the gospels when we think of such declarations as “the golden rule” and various teachings on humility and repentance.

But what are we to do when faced with all the problems, challenges and fearful threats that are filling the chaotic world we’re living in?

When I asked God that pragmatic question, His answer seemed almost too obvious. 

Discover the destructive roots that have overgrown the rough path we’re traveling on. Dig out those roots and chop out the vines that produced them. Then Restore the broken path that Isaiah is talking about. These simple directions will have obviously as many different applications as there are people who ask the LORD for His direction in doing them.

Proverbs 16:9 is a golden key here: “The mind of a man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.”

Is it any surprise that our modern, younger, emotionally popularity-centered society has a tendency to prioritize and prize “novel things” in disregard for ‘the old ways?’

Acts 17:21 describes Paul’s encounter with the generation of Greek residents of Athens who gathered socially at a place called Mars Hill.  That was sort of like their generation’s version of modern social media interaction.  It says: (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)

Things haven’t really changed much in 2,000 years, have they?  In contrast, consider what the Lord showed me in Jeremiah 6:16.

Ask for the “ancient paths.”

“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).

From the beginnings of what we call modern “science”, and especially since the resurgence of the ancient pagan worship of nature, in the form of modern evolutionary “pseudo-science,” we’ve seen a common compulsion in society to follow after whatever seems to be new. There are new philosophies and new religions and “modernized” per-versions of traditional doctrines—there’s always some new idea for self-centered humans to rally around. But the eternal God does not change with the times. With Him, there “is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). “Jesus Christ – the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

There is obvious value in the true advances in science and technology. In fact, discoveries to benefit God’s created order are to be expected from the Genesis dominion mandate to “subdue” the earth (Genesis 1:28).  However, all the “new” trends in morality and religion are really only ancient immoralities and ancient evolutionism, redecorated with modern terminology. And let’s face it, the belief that nothing exploded to become everything …that eventually – over millions of years – mysteriously converted mere chemicals into complex creatures that morphed eventually into modern man who can’t figure out that life can never come from chemicals… that… is a religion that demands more than faith… it demands gullibility that even a child can see is infinitely absurd.

Prophets like Jeremiah, Isaiah, and others repeatedly voiced the Creator’s disdain for all those challenges to the “old paths.”  We learn from the waywardness of God’s Bible examples of His people in the past that the “old paths” constitute the “good way.”  God’s people will never find true soul-rest until they “walk therein.”  That’s why His word prescribes common sense rules of order like: “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set” (Proverbs 22:28). The New Testament likewise rebukes all those idle “philosophers” socializing at Mars Hill, who “spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing” (Acts 17:18,21). When the true gospel is proclaimed, however, it’s genuine “good news” to all who are not just curious to hear “this new doctrine” (Acts 17:19), but for those who will appropriate it for themselves by faith. That takes sincere action and a change of direction (i.e. repentance).   This new doctrine, in fact, is not new at all, but is that “hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2). (Henry Morris https://www.icr.org/article/21564)

Notice all the cross connections in Scripture that God weaves into His “ancient paths.” They all emanate from the book of beginnings, the book of Genesis, which obviously is delivered to us with the expectation that we can confidently believe in the account of creation and the early history of God’s world. As Jesus said, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31).

You’ve likely heard of the 7 phases of historical empires.

 Sir John Bagot Glubb (AKA Glubb Pasha), Army General and historian, studied eleven empires, starting with the Assyrians in 859 B.C. and ending with the British in 1950 A.D.  He observed that each empire experienced a curiously similar pattern from its dawn to its collapse. It took about ten generations, but each empire passed through 7 distinct stages:

1. The Age of Pioneers (Outburst)
2. The Age of Conquests
3. The Age of Commerce
4. The Age of Affluence
5. The Age of Intellect
6. The Age of Decadence
7. The Age of Decline & Collapse

What do you suppose were marks of the ultimate age? Glubb names some: defensiveness, pessimism, materialism, frivolity, an influx of foreigners, the Welfare State, and a weakening of religion.  What was the common cause of all this?  He says they all had too long a period of wealth and power, selfishness, love of money, and the loss of a sense of duty. (ref: https://medium.com/i-m-h-o/7-stages-of-empire-fcc641b07875)

The ESV translation for Jeremiah 18:15 gives us insight that applies to our generation. 

But my people have forgotten me;
they make offerings to false gods;
they made them stumble in their ways,
in the ancient roads,
and to walk into side roads,
not the highway,

Many in our day all over the world have bowed to their nations as if they were gods. People seem to increasingly regress into the vanity of thinking they can build a government that can be the means of their temporal ‘salvation.’  Whether they believe in the only True Almighty Living God or not, they put so much hope and trust in earthly ‘princes’ that they unknowingly commit a version of ‘idolatry.’  When deceived people commit their trust and hope to such vain imaginations, they mistakenly can be misled to see Socialism as the “progressive” bridge between capitalism and communism.

Socialism is seen as the bridge between Capitalism and Communism.

(from https://www.ethanallen.org/45_communist_goals_from_58_years_ago)

 The major difference between Socialism and Communism is in the method of takeover.  Socialism (and Progressivism) believes that it can centralize all control of the individual, land and industry by peaceful, but gradual, legislation; whereas Communism seeks a violent and final confrontation to eliminate all dissension to achieve its Utopian goal of a Stateless and Classless society. 

But make no mistake; what is the same in all three ideologies is the desire to seize monolithic control of society. Mussolini termed this the Totalitarian Society: “Everything in the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State.”

Just keep in mind the obscure little verse in Zepheniah 2:11

The LORD will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth;
People shall worship Him, Each one from his place, indeed all the shores of the nations.

So, what is the first step for a satanic philosophy, like Marxism, to succeed?

Demoralization (i.e., eroding Judeo-Christian morals) is step 1 for Marxism to succeed.

(Ref: https://mamabearapologetics.com/communist-goals/ )

If you’ve never seen the interview that G. Edward Griffin did with former KGB operative, Yuri Bezmenov, you must listen to it all when you have a chance. (the link to the full interview is: https://youtu.be/6BtE0A1QAic?si=FAgH14BKmlxnXRe-&t=102).  He elaborated on how communist propaganda to subvert a society is a great brainwashing process which goes very slow. It’s divided into four basic stages, the first one being demoralization. Listen to just a couple minutes of the interview. (at this link: https://youtu.be/IQPsKvG6WMI?si=M0bVIRrCZeG_9lmx&t=85 .. listen up to 03:31 minute mark).

It takes from 15 to 20 years to demoralize a nation. Why that many years? Because this is the minimum number of years which is required to educate one generation of students. And once a society is demoralized, “Exposure to true information does not matter anymore. A person who is demoralized is unable to assess true information. The facts tell nothing to him.”  

Hearing this discussion, does this remind you of the downward process described in Romans 1:18-32?  With demoralization, our minds are destined to confusion and futility.

“…although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools…” Romans 1:21-22.

Our Enemy’s goals have been openly stated for at least two generations of Americans.

On Jan. 10, 1963, Congressman Albert S. Herlong Jr. of Florida read a list of 45 Communist goals into the Congressional Record. The list was compiled by researcher and former FBI Agent, Cleon Skousen, in his book, “The Naked Communist.”  In it he distilled decades of research describing the rise of communist powers and the current communist agenda of that time.

WHAT IS THE NAKED COMMUNIST?

Marxism (communism) is not just political. It is deeply ideological, arguably a religion without the supernatural Creator God. That’s why evolutionism is so essential in the belief system. It attempts to explain the world in secular terms.

When you hear all 45 of the goals detailed in The Naked Communist, the moral aims of communism are clear.  Adolf Hitler remarked, “How fortunate for leaders that men do not think.”  Is it even possible to govern a people who passively accept public policies with no pushback? Without a disciplined society and some kind of sense of future accountability to a righteous divine judge, traditional morality inevitably erodes. Apostle Paul warned us about this.  Do you think contemporary progressive (liberal – leftist) leaders hope that Christians don’t read Romans too literally?  If we did, do you think the nation would be acquiescing so easily?

In order to get a better understanding of the war that has already conquered American society, let’s check off just a few of the 45 Communist, and by extension Socialist and Progressive, goals that were read into our Congressional Record over 60 years ago:

1. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.
2. Get control of the schools and teachers’ associations. Soften the curriculum.
3. Infiltrate the press and gain control of all student newspapers.
4. Gain control of key positions in the radio, TV and movie industries.
5. Eliminate obscenity laws by calling them “censorship” – a violation of free speech and press.
6.  Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in the media.
7. Control art critics and directors of art museums. “Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art.”
8.  Normalize homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as “natural, and healthy.”
9. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand [or treat].
10. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with “social” religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity, which does not need a “religious crutch.” Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the grounds that it violates the principal of “separation of church and state.”
11. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate and old-fashioned.
12. Discredit the American founding fathers as selfish aristocrats [and racists] who had no concern for the “common man.”
13. Belittle American culture and discourage the teaching of American history.
14. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.
15. Infiltrate and gain control of big business and unions.
16. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.
17. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? When a society virtually deifies secular academic education, is it any wonder that some of the smartest people in the country have been propagandized to believe and do the stupidest things?

All of these goals were designed to destroy the moral framework of our country and traditional American values.

…more than 30 of his stated goals have been implemented.

The same convention that set up the goals, also instructed its members to work to help overwhelm the public assistance programs and to not call themselves communists or socialists, nor liberals, but to label themselves progressives. The end goal was to divide America, create class warfare, race and age confrontations and divisive violent confrontations so that government has to expand and step in to stop the chaos by limiting our liberty.

Those who have swallowed the ‘blue pill’ think all this is just the result of normal evolutionary processes. That’s why the infamous Marxist, Lenin, called them “useful idiots.”

Our highly propagandized and largely gullible society has been falling for the openly boasted goals of social communism since the end of WWII… Why? Because our post war generation fostered convenience and ambition above the principles of Deuteronomy 6 that were valued by previous generations of Americans.

Will our generation see a rediscovery of the truth and actually live according to it?

If we are to be so blessed, then now is the time for true believers to prioritize God-honoring Bible history as a regular part of their information consumption.  And it won’t hurt to include the history of God’s works in world history.  Listen to what Moses instructed the new generation of Israelites before they began the conquest of the giants of Canaan.

““For ask now concerning the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether any great thing like this has happened, or anything like it has been heard.” Deuteronomy 4:32

This challenge was given by Moses to the children of Israel as they prepared to enter the promised land. It was vital that they cease all complaining and begin to behave like God’s holy nation of people.

They needed to regain a sense of historical perspective.  That’s why Moses urged them to study the history of the world since the beginning. This would be possible only through studying the book of Genesis—“since the day that God created Adam [same word as ‘man’] upon the earth.”

Do you think it’s significant that “the days that are past” were implied by Moses to have begun at creation?  Notice that there’s no hint of any long “geological ages” before that. The 25 or 30 centuries from Adam to Moses provided enough history to instruct his generation about God’s plans for the world.  It prepared them for their own key role in the Creator’s providence.  They would one day appreciate the real meaning of their own lives as they awaited the promised redeemer, who was to come on a predetermined future day with salvation.

Like us, the former slaves of Egypt needed the perspective that Moses had to review for them before facing the giants in a battle that would be ordered by the same Lord Himself who recorded the events of the following few verses.

“Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live?  Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?  To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.”  Deuteronomy 4:33-35

Now, if the Israelites needed a true historical perspective, do we need one today far more?

In addition to what they had, we now also have the history of Israel, the first coming of Christ, God’s completed revelation, and 2,000 years of the history of Christ’s influence on humanity.  We have plenty to learn and for our eternal benefit. Our understanding of Yahweh and His purposes should be far greater than theirs. So, we have much greater responsibility. May God help us to study and believe and understand all that has gone before, as recorded in His Word, so that we also can be prepared to fulfill our own role in God’s great plan of the ages for eternity.

(ref. “Ask of THE FORMER DAYS.” DAYS OF PRAISE Deuteronomy 4:32 https://www.icr.org/article/21034)

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