Ezekiel 18:24 [I]f a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.
As the prophet preached God’s word, he saw people respond in at least three ways. Some rejected God’s word and remained wicked. Others received God’s word and became righteous. Others became righteous for a while, but then returned to their wickedness.
The Apostle Peter was also concerned for those who received God’s word but later turned away. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them (1 Peter 2:20-21), he wrote.
We can understand why people turn away from wickedness to become righteous. But why would anyone turn away from righteousness to become wicked? One answer is fatigue. It’s not hard to be good for a while, but being good all the time can be exhausting. Swimming against the cultural current, and denying our sinful natures day after day requires moral stamina. A man who was in prison for committing serious crimes freely admitted this. I know what it is to be good, and I know what it is to be bad, and being bad is easier, he said.
This is why believers must find their strength in God. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:30-31), wrote Isaiah. Believers in Jesus Christ need supernatural strength to follow him, and he will supply it, if we keep on asking (Matthew 7:7).
Ezekiel 18:32 I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!
Many of God’s people were living in exile, others had died of starvation, and others were put to the sword. Given the severity of their punishment, some may’ve wondered if God enjoyed afflicting his people. To this we can add the biblical teaching of eternal punishment (Matthew 25:41). If God is good, why does he let people suffer and die, only to send them to hell? What kind of God would do this?
Against the problem of suffering, the biblical writers insisted that God is good, and wants everyone to be saved. [God is] not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), wrote Peter. And [God] wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4), wrote Paul. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone (Lamentations 3:33), wrote Jeremiah.
But the greatest proof that God is good doesn’t come from what he’s said, but from what he’s done. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16), wrote John.
Human suffering is real, and so is eternal punishment. But when we see what God has done for our salvation, we can never question his goodness or love again. He took the suffering we deserve, and put it on himself, so we could live forever. Whenever we question the goodness of God we must think about the cross.
Ezekiel 20:43 [Y]ou will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done.
God’s people sinned by turning from God to idols, and were largely unrepentant. But God promised a time when they would loathe themselves for what they had done. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices (Ezekiel 36:31), said God.
The Apostle Paul is a good example of this. Before he knew Christ, he considered himself to be faultless (Philippians 3:6). But after he knew Christ, he considered himself to be wretched. We tend to think we’re pretty good people until we see ourselves in the light of God’s holiness. Then we understand we’re not. But this can help us make spiritual progress. In order to become what we are not, we must first be unhappy with what we are.
Thankfully, there will be no self loathing in heaven because there will be no more sin. [H]e who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6), wrote Paul. God doesn't give up on his people but finishes what he starts. A billion years from now it’ll be almost a billon years since the last time we sinned. This is the longing of every redeemed heart.
*****
Ezekiel 21:21 For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He will cast lots with arrows, he will consult his idols, he will examine the liver.
As Nebuchadnezzar marched out to war, he came to a fork in the road and sought direction from his gods. Arrows were apparently marked and tossed to the ground, to discern which way to go. Idol’s were also consulted, and livers of sacrificed animals were studied, to get direction from gods that didn’t exist.
Here we see the darkness of the world before the coming of Christ. Even kings were making important decisions based on superstition. But all that changed when Jesus came. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:2), wrote Isaiah. Believers in Jesus Christ are set free from superstition to follow the Son of God.
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness (John 8:12), said Jesus. The remarkable thing about Christianity is that it not only makes sense in itself, but makes sense of everything else. I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else (CS Lewis).
Reflection and Review
Why do some people stop following Christ?
Why does God let people suffer?
Why does Christianity make sense?
As the prophet preached God’s word, he saw people respond in at least three ways. Some rejected God’s word and remained wicked. Others received God’s word and became righteous. Others became righteous for a while, but then returned to their wickedness.
The Apostle Peter was also concerned for those who received God’s word but later turned away. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them (1 Peter 2:20-21), he wrote.
We can understand why people turn away from wickedness to become righteous. But why would anyone turn away from righteousness to become wicked? One answer is fatigue. It’s not hard to be good for a while, but being good all the time can be exhausting. Swimming against the cultural current, and denying our sinful natures day after day requires moral stamina. A man who was in prison for committing serious crimes freely admitted this. I know what it is to be good, and I know what it is to be bad, and being bad is easier, he said.
This is why believers must find their strength in God. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:30-31), wrote Isaiah. Believers in Jesus Christ need supernatural strength to follow him, and he will supply it, if we keep on asking (Matthew 7:7).
Ezekiel 18:32 I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!
Many of God’s people were living in exile, others had died of starvation, and others were put to the sword. Given the severity of their punishment, some may’ve wondered if God enjoyed afflicting his people. To this we can add the biblical teaching of eternal punishment (Matthew 25:41). If God is good, why does he let people suffer and die, only to send them to hell? What kind of God would do this?
Against the problem of suffering, the biblical writers insisted that God is good, and wants everyone to be saved. [God is] not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), wrote Peter. And [God] wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4), wrote Paul. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone (Lamentations 3:33), wrote Jeremiah.
But the greatest proof that God is good doesn’t come from what he’s said, but from what he’s done. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16), wrote John.
Human suffering is real, and so is eternal punishment. But when we see what God has done for our salvation, we can never question his goodness or love again. He took the suffering we deserve, and put it on himself, so we could live forever. Whenever we question the goodness of God we must think about the cross.
Ezekiel 20:43 [Y]ou will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done.
God’s people sinned by turning from God to idols, and were largely unrepentant. But God promised a time when they would loathe themselves for what they had done. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices (Ezekiel 36:31), said God.
The Apostle Paul is a good example of this. Before he knew Christ, he considered himself to be faultless (Philippians 3:6). But after he knew Christ, he considered himself to be wretched. We tend to think we’re pretty good people until we see ourselves in the light of God’s holiness. Then we understand we’re not. But this can help us make spiritual progress. In order to become what we are not, we must first be unhappy with what we are.
Thankfully, there will be no self loathing in heaven because there will be no more sin. [H]e who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6), wrote Paul. God doesn't give up on his people but finishes what he starts. A billion years from now it’ll be almost a billon years since the last time we sinned. This is the longing of every redeemed heart.
*****
Ezekiel 21:21 For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He will cast lots with arrows, he will consult his idols, he will examine the liver.
As Nebuchadnezzar marched out to war, he came to a fork in the road and sought direction from his gods. Arrows were apparently marked and tossed to the ground, to discern which way to go. Idol’s were also consulted, and livers of sacrificed animals were studied, to get direction from gods that didn’t exist.
Here we see the darkness of the world before the coming of Christ. Even kings were making important decisions based on superstition. But all that changed when Jesus came. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:2), wrote Isaiah. Believers in Jesus Christ are set free from superstition to follow the Son of God.
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness (John 8:12), said Jesus. The remarkable thing about Christianity is that it not only makes sense in itself, but makes sense of everything else. I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else (CS Lewis).
Reflection and Review
Why do some people stop following Christ?
Why does God let people suffer?
Why does Christianity make sense?