How then shall we live?

In this passage, Ezekiel repeats some themes from earlier in the book.

God once again warns Ezekiel, “Don’t be silent when I tell you to speak.  I will hold you accountable if  a person dies in their sin and you didn’t warn them.”

Then he told Ezekiel what the Israelites were saying among themselves.

Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them.  How then can we live?  (Ezekiel 33:10)

So many times, we look at our own lives and we say the same thing.

We see the sin that is chaining us down, and is destroying us.  And we say, “I’ve made such a mess of my life and God is punishing me for it.  How can I live when God is so against me?”

But God told the people,

Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.

Turn!  Turn from your evil ways!  Why will you die, O house of Israel?’  (11)

He says the same to us.

“Do you think I like seeing you suffer?  Do you think I like it when people go to hell?  Turn!  The reason that I’m doing these things is so that you can find true life.  Why keep living a life that leads to death?”

But the problem with these Jews is clearly seen in the latter part of the chapter.

Word had just come to Ezekiel and his fellow expatriates that Jerusalem had finally fallen.  Even so, the people were certain that they would someday return, not because of God, but because of their own efforts.

And so God told them, “It’s not going to happen.  You continue to live in rebellion against me and you will perish for it.”

Then he told Ezekiel,

My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice.

With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.

Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.  (31-32)

The problem with these Jews was that though they made a pretense of wanting to hear God’s word and of worshiping him, their hearts were far from him.

Hearing Ezekiel’s words was like a kind of entertainment for them, but they would not put those words into practice.

Sometimes people go to church with  the same attitude.

They go to get a good show.  They go because they are entertained.  They go because it makes them feel good.

But when it comes to the Word of God, they fail to put it into practice.  As a result, they are walking dead men and women because they are still steeped in their sin.  And one day they will be judged.

How about you?  Are you suffering because of your sin?

God doesn’t desire that you perish but that you be saved.  That you be set free from a lifestyle that is destroying you and that you would find true life.

Jesus came 2000 years ago, dying on a cross that your sins might be forgiven, and three days later he rose again, conquering death.  Now he offers life to you.

Don’t think that playing the Christian will save you.

God sees your heart.  He sees the sin that is there and he calls you to repent and follow him.  Will you?  It starts with a prayer.

Jesus, I’ve made a mess of my life through my sin.  I’ve gone my own way and paid for it.  Please forgive me. 

I believe you died on the cross for my sins.  Wash me clean.  Change me.  Make me new. 

Teach me what it is to truly live.  I want to follow you.  In Jesus’ name, amen.