Articles
Judgment the Consequence of Sin
Judgment the Consequence of Sin Ezekiel 24
In Ezekiel 24 we read: "On account of your unclean lewdness, because I would have cleansed you and you were not cleansed from your uncleanness, you shall not be cleansed anymore till I have satisfied my fury upon you. I am the LORD. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord GOD.” (Ezek. 24:13-14).
Throughout Jeremiah and Ezekiel we are made to know that condemnation by God is due to man's sin. One of my favorite sayings that I picked up in my reading: "God is ALWAYS and ONLY angry at sin."* We see this in the above quote. God's judgment is according to 'your ways and your deeds'. In chapter 18 we learned that THE soul that sins shall die (18:20). God does not punish son for the guilt of the father NOR the father for the guilt of the son. God's judgment is fair, righteous, and just.
The description of the judgment of God upon Judah to our 21st century ears seems harsh. The destruction of the cities; the killing of the people including men, women, and children; the enslaving of the rest of the population; it is hard to wrap your head around. God repeatedly informs us that such was the reward of their evil deeds.
God created man to live with Him. He created man upright and gave good instructions on how to live in a way that is harmonious with our creator. He blessed man with life and all that goes with living on this earth. In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). He loves, provides, and cares for people.
What He asks in return is for man to gratefully acknowledge such and love Him. This seems to be 'too difficult' for most people! They eagerly accept His blessings but refuse to give thanks. They partake of His creation but set their hearts and affections on everything but God. Such unthankfulness leads men into all manner of ungodliness and evil. (cp. Read Romans 1 here!). God created man upright but we have sought out all manner of wickedness (Eccl. 7:29).
God in His holiness can only respond in judgment. God does not capriciously display anger at men, He responds in righteous judgment upon evil. Such judgments are simply the consequences of our actions.
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life" (Gal. 6:7-8).
* I believe this came from Jack Cottrell in his book on the Holiness of God.
Reading 8/21/13
