Turn And Live
Ezekiel 17-19
Have you ever spoken to someone who said “I can’t believe in a god who would allow all this suffering in the world”? Did you know that such a statement is actually idolatry? They are choosing to believe in something other than God. They have created their own god because they won’t believe in a god who does not function as they see fit. What foolishness. God is God whether you like it or not. You can say you won’t believe in Him but that doesn’t take away His existence or authority.
This is God’s world and He can do with it as He sees fit. Listen to this from today’s reading:
Ezekiel 18:4
“Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.”
All souls are God’s and He has decreed that all who sin shall die. Who has sinned?
Romans 3:23
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
His world, His rules; you are a dead man. Still, God does not wish that any will perish.
Ezekiel 18:25-32
“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
Let there be no confusion. All who die will deserve their death. Yet, it is not God’s desire that any should perish. He has provided a way to be saved. It isn’t cheap, and it isn’t easy, but it is simple. “Turn and live”. Jesus died on the cross that we may live. We must accept His atoning sacrifice to be saved but we can only truly accept it after we have decided to turn from our sinful ways. He will help us destroy sins hold on us be we must decide to do so first.
I worry that far too many people have walked the aisles of churches proclaiming they have accepted the salvation that only Jesus can provide but have not truly decided to turn from their sin. Oh, I’m sure they feel badly about their past behavior, and that is part of it, but feeling bad does not mean that you have firmly committed yourself to turning your back on your sinful ways. Feeling bad and saying the magic words does not save you.
A changed heart that accepts His sacrifice and is humbly and thankfully submitted to Christ saves you. That change is the commitment to turn. God wants you to live but you must decide to do so. Jesus isn’t a cheap insurance policy; He is a changed life dedicated to the glory of God. If you haven’t already, will you turn and live?
Have a God glorifying day!
Your brother and servant in Christ,
Bill
Dying to self, living to serve!
