If a person finds himself in a pickle it will serve him well to know why. Children will grow up to be law abiding citizens if their parents have disciplined them making sure they understand what wrong they did, and why they are being punished. God has standards by which man is to live. The first and most important standards are to know who he is, and to love him with all of their heart, their soul and their mind. When man doesn’t do this he gets in trouble. Throughout history man has refused to accept who God is. It seems today that people don’t care who he is, and even deny that he exists.
There was a man who was a priest and a prophet before and after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. God gave Ezekiel the message to tell Israel, and the surrounding nations because they didn’t know or accept who God was. They were disobedient and did evil things. There was almost nothing they wouldn’t do. The people of Israel abandoned the sanctuary, they despised God, they rebelled against him, they murdered their babies, and they worshipped the false gods of other nations. They lusted after idols.
God’s message to Ezekiel for Israel came over and over again in this manner, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you poured out your lust and exposed your naked body in your promiscuity with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols, and because you gave them your children’s blood…” and the message goes on describing the gross detestable sins the people committed; perversion of every kind, just like we see in our nation today. Chapter after chapter Ezekiel tells Israel what their sins are, and what God is going to do to punish them. He also tells the people of the pagan nations what The Sovereign Lord says and how they will be punished.
About 30 chapters in the book of Ezekiel which has 48 chapters repeats the line, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says.” The people didn’t care to listen. They refused to hear the warning, just like most people in America refuse to hear the warning. Fewer and fewer go to church, ever. Children are being raised so they don’t know the Sovereign Lord. Men and women choose to live their perverted life styles because they do not care what the Lord says.
Ezekiel told the people what God had to say about their sin and what their punishment would be. Several times God’s word to the people was, “I am about to deliver you into the hands of those you hate, to those you turned away from in disgust.” America may think about this one day.
Time and time again in these chapters of warning of impending doom God says, “Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.” God wants us to know that he is the Sovereign Lord. He want us to live like we know he is the Sovereign Lord.
“You will be judged according to your conduct and actions, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel speaks to us today, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says.” I wonder, who really cares what the Sovereign Lord says? Today’s true prophets and preachers get weary repeating these words to people who refuse to listen. Their hearts ache when people had rather hear a funny story or watch a sporting event, or enjoy the pleasures of the world than to hear a word from God, and know that he is the Sovereign Lord.
Well someday every man, woman, and creature will know that God is the Sovereign Lord, and that he was serious when he demanded our love, our worship, and our praise. Those who refuse to acknowledge him, seek him, and give him the glory will be eternally sorry. Every knee will one day bow before him and every tongue will confess that he is the Sovereign Lord of lords and King of kings. For most it will be too late, because the Sovereign Lord made it clear to us what he expected. And he made it clear what we must do if we are going to spend eternity with him.
America has only to read the book of Ezekiel to hear what the Sovereign Lord has to say to us. One thing that he told Ezekiel to tell Israel was that both the wicked and the righteous would fall under the terrible hand of the evil nation Babylon. When and if this kind of tragedy strikes America everyone will suffer. And God said, “Then they will know that I am the Sovereign God.”
I love your writing. Someday, you will know the impact they have had on all who read them.
ReplyDeleteJohn Paul Brady.. I guess I take the chance to tell how bad the church has hurt me, not just once but at least 3 times. I am one who gave her entire life to the church and loving Gods laws and his people. The truth that I know is that the leaders and much of the churches leadership are somehow perverted. This last hurt has almost did me in. I truly don’t believe I will ever recover. And I honestly know I can never trust a”The Church “ again.
ReplyDeleteJohn Paul... Thank you for sharing your heart and your wisdom. Yes, America is in social and moral decline because so many have turned away from God. I truly believe that the founding of this country: the great men who came together to draft our founding documents, the principles and values they held precious, the personal sacrifices they made (most of the signers of the Declaration of Independence lose everything for their "treason" against the Crown), the miracle that we could win our freedom from the most powerful empire of that time... were all inspired and directed by God.
ReplyDeleteFew Americans even know our history, let alone understand and appreciate the amazing opportunity that God gave to us. Like Israel, we have squandered God's gifts and we have chosen the worship of sin over the worship of our God.
The consequences may well be the destruction of our country and the loss of our freedoms... just as Israel violently fell to Babylon. God will not accept or allow our sin and depravity to continue without consequence... both here and eternally.
I cry for America. I fear for my grandchildren. I pray that our people return to the church. I also know it is all ultimately under control and beyond my understanding.