The Simple Life

Therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will withdraw. My eye will not spare, and I will have no pity. Ezekiel 5:11 (ESV)   There is nothing more tragic in all the universe than God withdrawing from someone or something. The Bible makes it clear that God is the creator and sustainer of all life. Therefore, all that He created is sustained only by Him and for Him. When He withdraws, for whatever reason, there is no reason or way to have life.   Therefore, those who try to live without the giver and sustainer of life cannot find purpose, fulfillment, significance, or security. Without God, there is no light, and the darkness that overtakes the human soul becomes unbearable, yielding anxiety, depression, and despair.   Adding darkness to darkness is not the cure for darkness, and no matter how used to it we become, we can never really escape the hope...

But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God.' He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house. Ezekiel 3:27 (ESV)   There is a strong theme at the beginning of this book that centers on God being God and Ezekiel needing to listen to Him. Once again, Ezekiel is reminded of the source of his authority. He is to declare that God is speaking, and by that, silence those who oppose God's truth.   There is no other name in the universe that has more power and authority than God. If God has said something, all others who speak on the subject must be in line with what He has said, or they will be wrong. We need to be careful when using His name, and why, early in history, we are warned against using it in vain.   All my words come from my limited understanding of all things. All God's words come from His perfect and limitless understanding of all things. That...

But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul." And the hand of the Lord was upon me there. And he said to me, "Arise, go out into the valley, and there I will speak with you." Ezekiel  3:21-22  (ESV)   It is always right to do right. It is always right to listen to God regardless of the response of those around you. Our goal must be to love God and love people, not to change God and change people. God cannot change, and people must choose to change.   This is a difficult message in an age that is evaluated on numbers, money, power, and comfort. As we read Hebrews chapter 11, we see those who were obviously successful on this earth in anyone's eyes, and we see those who were tortured, cut in half, and persecuted, who were equally successful.   The judge of success is God alone, and we might be surprised one day at those whom God has rewarded. https://www....

But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. Ezekiel 3:19 (ESV)   Ideas and actions have consequences. My responsibility is to do what God asks me to do, for ultimately, the consequences are already prescribed.   "Public sentiment in New York has been aroused against a poor brakeman on the New York Central railroad because he failed to give the danger signal to the St. Louis express. He was sent with a red lantern to wave down the approaching train, but, instead of doing so, he went into a depot and sat down by the fire. As the express thundered by he asked, "What's that?" and, when told, he disappeared in the darkness and has not yet been found by the police. The express dashed into the train on the track and killed twelve persons. Everybody feels that such neglect was criminal, and yet how about us who believe that our friends are going headlong to...

But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. Ezekiel 3:19 (ESV)   We are not the controller. We are the controlled. We cannot force people to listen and obey God's Word, but that does not mean we should not present it to them.   We each have responsibility. We are responsible for what we hear, listen to, or learn. We are responsible for using what we have learned to teach others. We are all on both sides of this fence every day, and therefore we have the opportunity to grow and help others grow.   When we think we are responsible for others' growth, we are tempted to manipulate the data to validate our efforts, which makes us more critical in the process.   I often think of my limited ability and wonder why I bother teaching at all. Perhaps that is why God included the book of Ezekiel in the Bible. I need to understand that my faithfulness to God is ...

And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.” Ezekiel  3:16-17  (ESV)   Often on the ocean I have gone to the prow of the vessel and looked out into the darkness of the night. I have found the watchman not one moment from his post, his eye gazing far over the sea, where he might discern at the greatest distance and at the earliest moment any cause of possible danger. The lives of the crew and passengers were in his hands. The mist might come down heavily, the wind might blow furiously, the storm rage incessantly; but still on and ever the watchman looks out in the one direction. The whales may sport in multitudes around the vessel, the whole sea behind him be in a phosphorescent glow. His own great object is not to care for these things, but to look ahead! So you are watchmen. You are on the ship. The vessel may be...