Life Choices
Ezek. 18:1-4,19-32
How we choose to live this life matters.
Photo by Ksenia Makagonova on Unsplash
The word of the Lord came to me: What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, "The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge"? As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die. Yet you say, "Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?" When the son has done what is lawful and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. The person who sins shall die. A child shall not suffer for the iniquity of a parent, nor a parent suffer for the iniquity of a child; the righteousness of the righteous shall be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be his own. But if the wicked turn away from all their sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is lawful and right, they shall surely live; they shall not die. None of the transgressions that they have committed shall be remembered against them; for the righteousness that they have done they shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live? But when the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity and do the same abominable things that the wicked do, shall they live? None of the righteous deeds that they have done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which they are guilty and the sin they have committed, they shall die. Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is unfair." Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, "The way of the Lord is unfair." O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get 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, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live. - Ezek. 18:1-4,19-32
If the reward or punishment doesn't come immediately, we start to believe it will never come.
This is how we choose to live our lives, in denial of consequences.
God told Ezekiel to go and warn the people of Israel about the consequences of their actions. But he also gives them a way to redeem themselves. All they need to do is turn away from their wickedness.
That sounds simple, doesn't it?
I don't know anyone who would ignore that advice, but there is a problem that is not addressed in this charge to Ezekiel. What if the people don't see what they are doing as wicked?
Remember what Jesus said about the leaders of the faith?
He accused them of being hypocrites for not seeing their actions as against God, while believing they were doing God's will.
That's a problem. And it is one we have today. Perhaps you believe in the devil. Many do not, preferring to believe we are responsible for our own actions and are not swayed by a spiritual being, But if you do, you may attribute our false sense of righteousness to his doings.
He makes us think we are doing the right thing when we actually are not.
It is much easier to put the blame for our transgressions on the devil on our shoulder than to see ourselves as guilty.
So, we have two factors acting against us.
One is the delay in judgment. We can do harm to others or ourselves today and not see the consequences right away.
The other is a distorted view of reality. We perceive that we are doing the right thing and that God or Jesus is behind us, when we may be acting against the will of God.
How do we self-regulate?
We can't do this alone. We need God's help.
As a child, I was told to think before I speak or act. That was good advice, but it is not enough today. We need to do more than stop and think. We need to set our sights on the example of Jesus and call upon the Holy Spirit to guide us.
We may still make mistakes. We are human, after all. But we will be able to see the error of our ways and make the necessary corrections.
God help us.
More to come...
Complex. Yes, God help us!