SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 18
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them. [Ezekiel 18:20]
The proverb that is quoted in the beginning suggests that people were thinking that their suffering was because of the sin of their parents, and that they were innocent victims of what was happening around them.
God challenges this, and says that each person stands on their own before Him.
God does not hold the sin of those that repent against them, nor does he credit past good deeds when a heart turns bad.
What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted? ‘The first,’ they answered.
Jesus tells a similar story of obedience, disobedience, judgment and mercy.
Some disobeyed at first, then obeyed, others obeyed at first then disobeyed.
The key is where they end up, not what they did in the past.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. [Matthew 21:28-32]
The key is repentance, for everyone!
Those that repent, that turn towards God and aim for Him, and strive with His help to do what He says, these are the ones that will be blessed… even if they were terrible sinners for most of their lives.
This is why God’s kingdom is populated by people that will surprise many, and many others will not be there that we expect to be.
Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! [Ezekiel 18:30-32]
God does not want anyone to perish; He wants everyone to repent and be saved.
God will not punish people for other peoples’ sins, each person must stand before God on their own.
It doesn’t matter what is in your past – good or bad – it matters where your heart is now, and where it is going.
If we admit our need for a new heart and a new spirit, if we turn away from whatever it is that is leading us away from God, then He will forgive and free us.
What am I waiting for?
PRAYER:
Lord, all my life I’ve been trying to say ‘yes’ and to do it; yet still today I turn away. Help me today to repent again, and to move in the right direction.