Today's Bible Reading: EZEKIEL 17:1-19:14
Ezekiel 18:23
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? . . . 32For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”
God is just. As such He must be just in His response to sin. He can’t overlook it or turn a blind eye to it. To remain just He must remain faithful to His word, “the soul who sins shall die” (Ezek 18:20) The New Testament agrees when Paul states, “for the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). Death is His just punishment for disobedience. If His guidelines, His laws, had not been made know to all men His judgement would be unjust. But they have been made know.
Paul clearly tells us two primary ways that the Lord presents His principles to all mankind. First, he states, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Rom 1:18-20). God through His creation has made His person and His principles known to everyone everywhere. No one can say that God doesn’t exist or He hasn’t manifested Himself to them. Disbelief in Him is in fact is disobedience to His universal revelation. We are all without excuse.
Second, Paul says, “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” (Rom 2:14:16). God through man’s conscience has revealed an innate sense of right and wrong. Although men don’t universally have the written law of God, they do have the work of the law written on their hearts. As such, their actions accuse them or acquit them on God’s judgment day.
The problem is that we all have indwelling sin that condemns us regardless of our access to God’s written Law. We are all “the wicked” in the text. There is no good we can do to dismiss our deplorable and despicable condition brought upon us by original and actual sin. We are all under a death penalty for our sin. We are all judged and found wanting. Isaiah previous stated, “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned –everyone- to his own way.” (Is 53:6)
But as the text affirms, the Lord takes “no pleasure in the death of anyone”. He has no delight in their destruction. He wants them to experience life. He would rather that all men “turn and live”. He would rather that everyone would “turn from His ways and live”.
So, to enable us to live the Lord offers a solution. Each of us must simply turn from our sin to His savior. It is in Jesus that we find life. He even proclaims that He is “the way, the truth and the life”. (John 14:6) It is in Him we receive forgiveness of sin and attain eternal life. Our judgement was placed on Jesus. It is by His death that the Lord dealt with our death sentence. God's justice is satisfied in Jesus. Instead of judgement we get Jesus. So, if you haven’t yet, "turn and live".
Today rejoice that God takes no pleasure in your death. Thank God that "He shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5:8) Thank Him that He has provided a way for all men to turn to Him and live. Pray that all men will.
Comments