Scripture

“Repent and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you. Put all your rebellion behind you. And find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.”

Observation

Ezekiel addresses a proverb common in Israel at that time, “The parents have eaten sour grapes and the children’s mouths pucker at the taste.” This expression is meant to convey that children are punished for the sins of their parents. The Lord says, “No! Every person is judged for their own sins.”

He gives an example of a man who is righteous in every way. This person will live because of his righteous deeds. If the man has a son who is an evil person, the son will not benefit from his father’s righteousness. And if this man has a son who is righteous, he will not be punished for his father’s sins.

God wants everyone to repent and to turn away from their sins and live.

Application

God wants everyone to repent and turn to him. This is the consistent theme of both the Old and New Testaments.

We love our own ways, doing our own things, setting our own rules. God calls that sin, and he wants us to surrender to His ways.

God is not wanting to punish people for his own pleasure. He wants us to turn away from paths that lead to death and instead to go his way that leads to everlasting life.

When we make that decision to follow him, he gives us a new heart and a new spirit. Over time he takes away our desires for self-centredness and gives us a desire to do what is right.

Surrender to the Lord and let Him transform you.

Listen

Lord, what else do you want to say to me about repentance and the way of righteousness?

Keith, it is not about how you start that matters but how you finish the race. Many people start off well, but fail to stay the course. Unless they repent they will not see eternal life. But there are many who come to see the futility of sin and they turn to me later in life. They will live.

People may see this as unfair. Why should 30 years of good deeds be overturned by one year of sin? It isn’t about good deeds versus bad deeds. My judgment is based on a person’s trajectory. Are they running towards me or away from me? Do they love me in their hearts or do they hate me?