Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, what is this proverb you peoplehave concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are long and every vision fails’? Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “I will make this proverb cease so that they will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.” But tell them, “The days draw near as well as the fulfillment of every vision. For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.For I the Lord will speak, and whatever word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it,” declares the Lord God.’”
Ezekiel 12:22-25
Here we are in Ezekiel. God has warned Jerusalem through the captivity of the northern kingdom. He has warned Jerusalem through the captivity of the ten thousand which included Ezekiel. He has warned them through countless prophets and He has warned them through His recorded word by Moses. He has even warned them in a song (Deuteronomy 32:1-43).
After years of acting right then acting wrong and then getting slapped on the wrist and God getting them out of trouble. After years of having a bad king who let them act a fool and then having a good king come in and demand they act right again… The people of Jerusalem, the children that God redeemed have mistaken God’s kindness, His grace, His patience, as weakness. They have gone so far as to think that all these mountain quaking, earth shaking, water out of rocks talking, Moses face glowing, was just a bunch of stories to scare them into doing as they were told. They have actually convinced themselves that the God of Israel is no different than the gods of the other nations…
They actually think that this judgment thing that they have heard about is not really going to happen… the prophets warn them that sin against God and His laws will bring judgment upon them and their whole land, but their response is “Yeh, right… whatever”
This “Yeh, right… whatever” even came from the priest… it came from those who were supposed to be teaching the others how to obey their God… it came from those who were supposed to be the example of righteousness… the one’s that were set apart, sanctified, clothed in the holy robes of priesthood… serving in the work of the temple.
Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4
It’s no different today. Is it?
If those who profess to know Christ, who profess to be set apart, sanctified, clothed in the holy robes… those serving in the church don’t live as though God will indeed judge sin… then why on earth should those who know Christ not?
Precious one, have you lived with your sin so long that you actually have convinced yourself that no judgment will come?
Have watched it supposedly “turn out alright” for others that you think that you can just live however you want and God’s kindness, grace, and patience will endure it? Are you mistaking God’s goodness for weakness?
I have seen it over and over and it breaks my heart.
Children taught what is right and what is wrong and believing it when they are children, but then as they grow they watch those around them doing the things they have been taught were wrong, things they believed were wrong, and they watch them seem to have no consequences for their actions… so now instead of choosing to hold firm to truth they choose the lie.
The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!
Genesis 3:4
Why do we so easily doubt that judgment will come? Why do we so easily believe that God will just keep allowing us more time to repent? Why do we so often mistake calmness for patience? Why do we mistake God’s delay as not ever showing up?
You will be hated by all because of My name,
but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
Matthew 10:22
Here in Matthew 12 Jesus says you must endure to the end… you must believe until the end… not just one moment, but until the end.
Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
Matthew 24:12-13
Here again in Matthew 24… endure until the end. Believe until the end. Just because sin abounds, just because lawlessness has increased even in the church… don’t let you own love grow cold for the One who redeemed you…
Because bottom line that’s it. It all comes down to love. We want God to love us enough to forgive anything we do or have done… but we don’t want to love Him enough to choose not to do it in the first place.
And we don’t want to believe that judgment will come because it seems to be working out just fine for so-and-so and so-and-so…
For we have become partakers of Christ,
if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,
Hebrews 3:14
As I watch others, and as I struggle with my own choices, I beg of you and I beg of myself to not be conformed to this world… to the culture of our present day society but to be conformed to the image of our Saviour. Let us make our choices out of our love for Christ not out of our love for our own lives. Let us truly love the Lord our God with all our heart, with our soul, with our mind, with all our strength. Let us cling to Him and not to anyone or anything else… Let us hold fast to our assurance, our assurance of His salvation and our assurance that He will indeed judge sin.