January 09, 2012
There is a beautiful full moon out this morning. It's beauty is breathtaking as it casts a glow across the frozen pond. Streams of light are radiating out from it in the shape of a cross. "Let the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1
God has Ezekiel tell the people the story of a watchman. If the watchman sees the enemy coming to attack them, he must blow the trumpet and warn the people. If they hear the warning and do nothing they are responsible for whatever happens to them. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming to attack and does not warn the people, then the people are still responsible for their own destruction, but the watchman will also be held accountable.
Ezekiel was appointed by God to be a watchman for Israel (God's people). God wanted His people to know their wicked and evil actions would be punished. If Ezekiel didn't warn them, then the people would be destroyed because of their actions, and Ezekiel would be punished for not telling them. But, if Ezekiel warned them and they refused to listen, then the people would still bear the consequences of their choices, but Ezekiel would be released from any responsibility. The people of Israel knew they weren't living how they should, but they wanted to find ways to save themselves instead of returning to follow the Lord. Ezekiel 33:11 - "Say to them: 'The Lord God says, As surely as I live, I do not want any who are wicked to die. I want them to stop doing evil and live. Stop! Stop your wicked ways! You don't want to die, do you, people of Israel?' "
In today's world, one of the questions people often ask is, "Why does a loving God send someone to hell?" The answer is—He doesn't. God doesn't send anyone to hell, the choices the people make and their refusal to change their hearts and lives, is what decides where they will spend eternity. God is a kind, loving, and patient God who wants no one to miss out on His grace. The sins of the wicked break His heart. He went to extreme measures to offer life and salvation to ALL. But it is just that... an offer. We have to choose to take it. The truth of the matter is this: Your eternal destiny is determined by what you choose. Be careful! The choice we make matters. It literally can mean the difference between Heaven and Hell. Confess. Repent. Surrender. Choose to accept God's free gift of salvation.
God continues to give Ezekiel the words to say to the people of Israel. Ezekiel 33:12 - "Say to your people: 'The goodness of those who do right will not save them when they sin. The evil of wicked people will not cause them to be punished if they stop doing it. If good people sin, they will not be able to live by the good they did earlier.' " f I tell good people, "You will surely live" they might think they have done enough good and rely on their past for protection. But that isn't how it works. If they start doing evil the good they did in the past won't be remembered and they will be held accountable for the evil they are now doing. Conversely, a wicked person, when they understand they will suffer the consequences for their actions, "may stop sinning and do what is right and honest. For example, they may return what somebody gave them as a promise to repay a loan, or pay back what they stole. If they live by the rules that give life and do not sin, then they will surely live, and they will not die. They will not be punished for any of their sins. They now do what is right and fair, so they will surely live." (Ezekiel 33:14-16)
The people say: "The way of the LORD is not fair." They said the same thing in Ezekiel 18:25–29. When I read it the first time I thought it was odd that they felt it unfair that everyone is accountable for their actions, but I didn't give it much thought. As I read it again I wondered why. Why in the world would they think that was unfair? God's ways made perfect sense to me. God says, "it is their own ways that are not fair." (Ezekiel 33:17)
I think I understand now. They were so sure they were "safe." After all, they were God's children; they were the Israelites; they were "Christians." They were sure they were "safe" because of their heritage. They did not think it necessary or true that they would be personally responsible for their actions. After all, what about God's grace? They didn't want anyone, even God, to tell them what to do. They acted "as if" they were listening but refused to change. How patronizing. They might as well as slapped God in the face. (See Hebrews 6:4–8) It was all about who they were, not whose they were. How dare God hold them accountable for their actions! Doesn't he understand who they are? How dare God forgive their enemies! Doesn't he understand what they have done to me!? I, I, I... me, me, me. It was all about them. How dare God!!
Oh my goodness, what dangerous thinking. That kind of thinking is the very root of the problem. They wanted God to be a god of their choosing, for their purposes. It doesn't work that way. The people said – Abraham was our father, this is our land. And God says, really? You really think you can depend on yourself instead of me? You really think you can disobey my commands and still live in the land? Really?!? Watch and see. I will make the land empty. Ezekiel 34:28–29 - "The people's pride in the land's power will end... They will know I am the LORD when I make the land an empty desert because of the things they have done that I hate."
Ezekiel was a faithful watchman. He warned the people. The people came "as if" they wanted to hear the message from the LORD. They sat in front of him "as if" they were God's people and they acted "as if" they wanted to listen, but the truth is they didn't want to listen and they didn't want to obey. Ezekiel 33:31 - "With their mouths they tell me they love me, but their hearts desire their selfish profits." Ezekiel, the people view you and your warnings as entertainment. Ezekiel 33:32 - "They hear your words but they will not obey them." Ezekiel tried to warn them. God tried to warn them. He will send messengers, He will alter circumstances, He will do everything in His power to change their minds, but He will not force anyone to surrender to His Lordship. Ultimately, we are solely responsible for the choices we make. God makes it very clear in scripture what His response to our choices will be. He is just and fair. Ezekiel 33:20 - "Israel, I will judge all of you by your own ways."
Then God talks to the people about the leaders of Israel. He compared them to shepherds who should have been taking care of the people. But instead of caring for others, they only thought of themselves. They didn't search for lost sheep; they didn't care for or feed the sheep; they only concerned themselves with their own wants. And God says, "How terrible it will be... I am against the shepherds. I will blame them..." I will remove them and I will take care of my people/sheep myself. I will search for them; care for them; feed them; put bandages on where they've been hurt; I'll make the weak strong. I will destroy those who only looked after themselves. "I will tend the sheep with fairness." I will take care of my people. I will judge fairly. Ezekiel 34:21 - "You push with your side and with you shoulder, and you knock down all the weak sheep with your horns until you have forced them away." You try to get your way, but that will end. I will save my people and they will not be hurt anymore. I will remove the danger from around them and they will live safely. I will bless them. There will be showers of blessings. They will reap harvests from the land. They "will be safe on their land." Ezekiel 34:27-31 - "Then they will know that I am the LORD when I break the bars of their captivity and save them from the power of those who made them slaves... then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them... you my human sheep, are the sheep I care for, and I am your God, says the LORD God."
In Ezekiel 35 God explains why He is against Edom, all for the purpose of, "then you will know that I am the LORD." Edom was angry and jealous of Israel/Judah. Edom hated them. They greedily wanted their (Israel and Judah's) things as their own. Ezekiel 35:10 - "These two lands will be ours. We will take them for our own." God says, I will treat you Edom just as you treated them. You were pleased when you thought you could take their land and things. So I, the LORD say, "All the earth will be happy when I make you an empty ruin." (Psalm 140:9 - "Those around me have planned trouble. Now let it come to them.") Then you will know. Edom took what wasn't theirs, "with joy and with hate in their hearts." They forced people out. And God says, "In my jealous anger"... I will avenge those who have chosen to be against me. But to my people I say, "I am concerned about you; I am on your side. You will be plowed, and seed will be planted in you... the ruins will be rebuilt... I will make you better off than at the beginning." I will act for the holiness of my name. I will restore you. "I will teach you to respect me completely, and I will put a new way of thinking inside you. I will take out the stubborn hearts of stone from your bodies, and I will give you obedient hearts of flesh. I will put my Spirit inside you and help you live by my rules and carefully obey my laws. You will live in the land I gave to your ancestors, and you will be my people, and I will be your God." (See Ezekiel 11:19; 18:30-31)
It's not too late. There is still time for repentance and forgiveness. (Ezekiel 33:11) "I do not want any who are wicked to die. I want them to stop doing evil and live. Stop! Stop your wicked ways!" Choose to do the right things. Change your hearts and minds.
From Life Lesson:
Next Entry: Ezekiel 37:1 – 39:29
There is a beautiful full moon out this morning. It's beauty is breathtaking as it casts a glow across the frozen pond. Streams of light are radiating out from it in the shape of a cross. "Let the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1
God has Ezekiel tell the people the story of a watchman. If the watchman sees the enemy coming to attack them, he must blow the trumpet and warn the people. If they hear the warning and do nothing they are responsible for whatever happens to them. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming to attack and does not warn the people, then the people are still responsible for their own destruction, but the watchman will also be held accountable.
Ezekiel was appointed by God to be a watchman for Israel (God's people). God wanted His people to know their wicked and evil actions would be punished. If Ezekiel didn't warn them, then the people would be destroyed because of their actions, and Ezekiel would be punished for not telling them. But, if Ezekiel warned them and they refused to listen, then the people would still bear the consequences of their choices, but Ezekiel would be released from any responsibility. The people of Israel knew they weren't living how they should, but they wanted to find ways to save themselves instead of returning to follow the Lord. Ezekiel 33:11 - "Say to them: 'The Lord God says, As surely as I live, I do not want any who are wicked to die. I want them to stop doing evil and live. Stop! Stop your wicked ways! You don't want to die, do you, people of Israel?' "
In today's world, one of the questions people often ask is, "Why does a loving God send someone to hell?" The answer is—He doesn't. God doesn't send anyone to hell, the choices the people make and their refusal to change their hearts and lives, is what decides where they will spend eternity. God is a kind, loving, and patient God who wants no one to miss out on His grace. The sins of the wicked break His heart. He went to extreme measures to offer life and salvation to ALL. But it is just that... an offer. We have to choose to take it. The truth of the matter is this: Your eternal destiny is determined by what you choose. Be careful! The choice we make matters. It literally can mean the difference between Heaven and Hell. Confess. Repent. Surrender. Choose to accept God's free gift of salvation.
God continues to give Ezekiel the words to say to the people of Israel. Ezekiel 33:12 - "Say to your people: 'The goodness of those who do right will not save them when they sin. The evil of wicked people will not cause them to be punished if they stop doing it. If good people sin, they will not be able to live by the good they did earlier.' " f I tell good people, "You will surely live" they might think they have done enough good and rely on their past for protection. But that isn't how it works. If they start doing evil the good they did in the past won't be remembered and they will be held accountable for the evil they are now doing. Conversely, a wicked person, when they understand they will suffer the consequences for their actions, "may stop sinning and do what is right and honest. For example, they may return what somebody gave them as a promise to repay a loan, or pay back what they stole. If they live by the rules that give life and do not sin, then they will surely live, and they will not die. They will not be punished for any of their sins. They now do what is right and fair, so they will surely live." (Ezekiel 33:14-16)
The people say: "The way of the LORD is not fair." They said the same thing in Ezekiel 18:25–29. When I read it the first time I thought it was odd that they felt it unfair that everyone is accountable for their actions, but I didn't give it much thought. As I read it again I wondered why. Why in the world would they think that was unfair? God's ways made perfect sense to me. God says, "it is their own ways that are not fair." (Ezekiel 33:17)
I think I understand now. They were so sure they were "safe." After all, they were God's children; they were the Israelites; they were "Christians." They were sure they were "safe" because of their heritage. They did not think it necessary or true that they would be personally responsible for their actions. After all, what about God's grace? They didn't want anyone, even God, to tell them what to do. They acted "as if" they were listening but refused to change. How patronizing. They might as well as slapped God in the face. (See Hebrews 6:4–8) It was all about who they were, not whose they were. How dare God hold them accountable for their actions! Doesn't he understand who they are? How dare God forgive their enemies! Doesn't he understand what they have done to me!? I, I, I... me, me, me. It was all about them. How dare God!!
Oh my goodness, what dangerous thinking. That kind of thinking is the very root of the problem. They wanted God to be a god of their choosing, for their purposes. It doesn't work that way. The people said – Abraham was our father, this is our land. And God says, really? You really think you can depend on yourself instead of me? You really think you can disobey my commands and still live in the land? Really?!? Watch and see. I will make the land empty. Ezekiel 34:28–29 - "The people's pride in the land's power will end... They will know I am the LORD when I make the land an empty desert because of the things they have done that I hate."
Ezekiel was a faithful watchman. He warned the people. The people came "as if" they wanted to hear the message from the LORD. They sat in front of him "as if" they were God's people and they acted "as if" they wanted to listen, but the truth is they didn't want to listen and they didn't want to obey. Ezekiel 33:31 - "With their mouths they tell me they love me, but their hearts desire their selfish profits." Ezekiel, the people view you and your warnings as entertainment. Ezekiel 33:32 - "They hear your words but they will not obey them." Ezekiel tried to warn them. God tried to warn them. He will send messengers, He will alter circumstances, He will do everything in His power to change their minds, but He will not force anyone to surrender to His Lordship. Ultimately, we are solely responsible for the choices we make. God makes it very clear in scripture what His response to our choices will be. He is just and fair. Ezekiel 33:20 - "Israel, I will judge all of you by your own ways."
Then God talks to the people about the leaders of Israel. He compared them to shepherds who should have been taking care of the people. But instead of caring for others, they only thought of themselves. They didn't search for lost sheep; they didn't care for or feed the sheep; they only concerned themselves with their own wants. And God says, "How terrible it will be... I am against the shepherds. I will blame them..." I will remove them and I will take care of my people/sheep myself. I will search for them; care for them; feed them; put bandages on where they've been hurt; I'll make the weak strong. I will destroy those who only looked after themselves. "I will tend the sheep with fairness." I will take care of my people. I will judge fairly. Ezekiel 34:21 - "You push with your side and with you shoulder, and you knock down all the weak sheep with your horns until you have forced them away." You try to get your way, but that will end. I will save my people and they will not be hurt anymore. I will remove the danger from around them and they will live safely. I will bless them. There will be showers of blessings. They will reap harvests from the land. They "will be safe on their land." Ezekiel 34:27-31 - "Then they will know that I am the LORD when I break the bars of their captivity and save them from the power of those who made them slaves... then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them... you my human sheep, are the sheep I care for, and I am your God, says the LORD God."
In Ezekiel 35 God explains why He is against Edom, all for the purpose of, "then you will know that I am the LORD." Edom was angry and jealous of Israel/Judah. Edom hated them. They greedily wanted their (Israel and Judah's) things as their own. Ezekiel 35:10 - "These two lands will be ours. We will take them for our own." God says, I will treat you Edom just as you treated them. You were pleased when you thought you could take their land and things. So I, the LORD say, "All the earth will be happy when I make you an empty ruin." (Psalm 140:9 - "Those around me have planned trouble. Now let it come to them.") Then you will know. Edom took what wasn't theirs, "with joy and with hate in their hearts." They forced people out. And God says, "In my jealous anger"... I will avenge those who have chosen to be against me. But to my people I say, "I am concerned about you; I am on your side. You will be plowed, and seed will be planted in you... the ruins will be rebuilt... I will make you better off than at the beginning." I will act for the holiness of my name. I will restore you. "I will teach you to respect me completely, and I will put a new way of thinking inside you. I will take out the stubborn hearts of stone from your bodies, and I will give you obedient hearts of flesh. I will put my Spirit inside you and help you live by my rules and carefully obey my laws. You will live in the land I gave to your ancestors, and you will be my people, and I will be your God." (See Ezekiel 11:19; 18:30-31)
It's not too late. There is still time for repentance and forgiveness. (Ezekiel 33:11) "I do not want any who are wicked to die. I want them to stop doing evil and live. Stop! Stop your wicked ways!" Choose to do the right things. Change your hearts and minds.
From Life Lesson:
"Scripture teaches us that grace and salvation are unconditional. This is absolutely true in the sense that there is no way we can earn God's grace or love; there is nothing we can do in order to achieve it. Our salvation is given to us freely as the gift of God's love. But when we read scripture carefully, we discover that before God forgives us, he expects us to forgive others. It seems as if God made us psychologically so that we are not able to receive forgiveness unless we first forgive... Again and again we get this message that Jesus expects us to be willing to forgive others as he is to forgive us. This... points to a basic biblical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual principle—if we want to receive forgiveness without giving forgiveness, we're asking God to violate principles he has built into us... God's laws are a given of his existence. They are built into our muscles, brains, personalities, and social interactions. His highest law, love, is what brought the world into being, and love is nourished by forgiveness. The opposite of love is hate, and hate is kept alive by resentment." ~ From Practical Christianity By David SeamandsThe opposite of forgiveness is resentment. Resentment is a cancer to relationships, our souls, and our bodies.
Next Entry: Ezekiel 37:1 – 39:29
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