Learn the Lesson!

Reflections on Ezekiel

On faith, judgment, and the centrality of Jesus Christ crucified

I’m sitting here, studying the book of Ezekiel. I see a parallel, a mirror of Judah and Jerusalem of old, and how America—and rather, the church—is looking like Judah and Jerusalem of old. And it breaks my heart, because they were God’s people, and we are God’s people. We have been grafted into the vine, and we didn’t learn this lesson that was taught and given to us in the book of Ezekiel.

When we rebel, when we go against God’s way, when we set up idols in our heart, we must remember this isn’t God’s way, and we must do things God’s way. We cannot do things our own way. We think that we are on the path that leads to the Father, Jesus and Him Crucified, but we aren't looking to Him and what was accomplished at the Cross of Calvary for us. We cannot look like the world. Yet the church today has adopted many things from the world and has tried to bring them into the church—just like Judah and Jerusalem tried to look like, act like, and do things like the nations around them. They brought in idols. They brought in all kinds of things God did not want in the temple, in His house.

And as I read and study this in Ezekiel, I see the same things: what they did then; we are doing now. Either we haven’t read/studied these lessons/examples, or we have read these lessons/examples and didn’t read to gain understanding, or we’ve hardened our hearts. Ezekiel prophesied, “Thus saith the Lord” to the Elders as they came before him. They wanted to hear a message of sunshine and rainbows (as do many now in the Church), but what they received was judgment and destruction. Their hearts were hard. They did not hearken, they did not listen to the prophet, because it wasn’t what they wanted to hear.

Even today, people sit in churches, and nobody is preaching what God told us to preach: Jesus and Him crucified. Yes, they are reading from the Bible, but it’s mixed with the world. So, they have a form of godliness, but they deny the power of God, which is the Holy Spirit.

If America does not watch it, we’re going to be just like Judah and Jerusalem of old. Yes, there are righteous people in this land, but God will say to us, just as He said to Jeremiah: you can pray all you want, but once I declare Myself against you—once I tell you of your rebellion, once I call you to turn and you refuse—your prayers will not be heard.

The Elders came before Ezekiel wanted to hear that they would go home, that there was hope, but instead they received a hard message. Their hearts grew harder. Even though Ezekiel sighed and cried under the burden of what was coming, it did not move them. They didn't listen and take it to heart. They did not weigh the message and fall on the mercy of God asking for forgiveness.

And today, the more we hear warnings about the wrath of God, the more people dismiss them. Yes, God is love, but He is also a God of wrath. If we continue to rebel, just as Israel did, judgment and destruction will come. We will pray, “Lord, spare America! Spare us!” But as God told Jeremiah, such prayers will not be heard.

Ezekiel declared that God would cut off the wicked by sword, death, and destruction—but also that He would cut off the righteous, so that their prayers could not spare the land. The Word of God says it rains on the just and the unjust alike. Judgment falls differently, but it falls on both. The wicked are destroyed. The righteous feel the consequences too, because we live in this world.

That’s why now is not the time for distraction; now is not the time for rebellion especially in the Church. In our personal lives, our cities, our states, and our nation, distractions abound. We must learn from the lessons/examples in Scripture. We must preach Christ crucified, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:23. Too few are preaching about this. And because of that, the people are not where they need to be in Christ.

When Jesus descends in the clouds, and the dead in Christ rise first, and we who are alive are caught up with Him, there will be few who are ready. He said, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Faith must be in the right object: Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Most of the church today does not have their faith placed there because preachers/ministers are not teaching what has instructed in His Word of God to preach. They are preaching that which pleases the ears of those that sit in their congregations so that people will stay and potential of receiving money. They are teaching everything but what God said to preach. This is rebellion and disobedient! They are ill preparing those that sit under them for when Christ comes.

If your Faith is not in Jesus Christ and Him crucified, you are in rebellion, and the majority of the church, sad but true, is in rebellion—just like Judah and Jerusalem were; and the worse part about it is that they don't even realize it! They thought they walked with God, and that God was for them because they were His people, but destruction still came. Just like the Church, many think just because they attend church everytime the doors are opened that they are right in God’s sight. Again, they have a form of godliness, but their hearts far form God, and their Faith is not after/in that which it needs to be, and that is Jesus and Him Crucified. Some churches have Jesus but have either left the Cross behind or deny the importance the Cross plays in the complete Victory that was accomplish there – Salvation, Justification and Sanctification!

We must get in line with God’s way, because if we don’t, God will set His face against us. And when He speaks, it will be done! No amount of prayer, no matter how holy the one praying, can overturn the judgment of God once He has spoken.

We better learn these lessons quickly. This applies not only to one particular church but to the Body of Christ as a whole. Many name the name of the Lord, but they are in rebellion because they are not doing it God’s way—Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

If we have our faith properly placed, even though we don’t want to see the destruction of our nation or loved ones, we must know: God will not hear prayers to spare the land once He has set His face against it. It is the same as it was with Judah and Jerusalem. God repeatedly, lovingly and patiently pleaded with them to change, turn and repent but they refused. They continued to rebel. They continued to worship idols and do abhorrent things/rituals. They continued to bring things in from other nations (aka the World) that was not God, not His way. They continued to rebel and would not repent and turn. For thirty plus years Jeremiah prophesied; Ezekial prophesied also, but they refused, and judgement came. Judgement delayed is God being patient with us. He does not desire that any should perish which is why I believe He had delayed Jesus in coming. He is pleading with us to change, repent and turn from our wicked, unrighteous ways. I am so grateful that He is faithful and just to forgive me of my many sins He has be patient with me as with us all.

Judgment begins at the house of the Lord. Now is not the time to play with eternity or with salvation. Make sure your Faith is in Jesus Christ alone. He is everything. Everything you need is found in Him, through the proper channel, the proper plan—The Cross. God’s way is Jesus Christ and Him crucified.