Ezekiel 18: 1-4, 25-32
The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:
” ‘The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son–both alike belong to me. The souls who sins will die.
“Yet you say the way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die. But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life. Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
“Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourself of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die O House of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!
A Thought
If the truth be known, there are probably people today that would say that God is unjust. The Lord tells us that the truth is that that every soul belongs to Him and our way is unjust. Every man will die for his own wickedness, unless he repents and turns away from his wickedness and then continues to do what is just and right. Everyone will be judged according to his own ways. We all must repent! God will give us a new heart and a new spirit that will love and honor Him. The wicked will die and the just will live. God is a just God who takes no pleasure in death.
Our Prayer
Father thank you that you are a just God giving each of us the opportunity to repent and turn from our wicked ways. Humble us to see our wickedness that we might repent and live. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
