Ezekiel 33:18-19 “If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it. And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so.”

This is the second time the Lord has spoken to Ezekiel on this subject, the first being back in Ezekiel 3, which we had April 7^th. That time, the focus seemed to be more on the responsibility of the watchman, which is mentioned here, but this time the emphasis seems to be on the response of the people. We’d better be paying attention! This throws a real wrench into Calvinism, or at least in the way a lot of people interpret Calvinism. It certainly doesn’t sound much like “Once saved, always saved!” The thing is, there are many tensions in faith, generated, I think, by our very limited perspective. God sees everything all the time, past, present, and future, so He knows what we will do because from His perspective, we’ve already done it. I think the lesson we need to take from this passage is that we aren’t to get cocky and presumptive because “we’re good people,” and also that genuine repentance is truly effective. David is an excellent case in point, because he started well, fell very badly, and yet ended his physical life in a good place, spiritually speaking. We aren’t to live in terror that we will fall, but rather know that it is only by God’s grace that we stand, and walk in obedient trust. (1 Corinthians 10:12) We should have a bedrock awareness that we can’t go it alone, but when we abide in Christ, we’ve got nothing to worry about. (Philippians 1:6)

I’m all too familiar with presumption and hubris. I think I have an advanced degree in it! I need to approach each day in humility and gratitude, amazed that God would choose to love and use such a one as I am, and yet be absolutely assured that He can and does. I am not to trust in what I do for God, but rather in the One who enables me to do it. I am frequently reminded that I am no more perfect than Paul was, (Philippians 3:12-14) nor immune to temptation, and so need to keep my trust in my Savior, and not in myself. My goal is to be faithfulness, doing what He wants me to do when and How He wants me to do it, on every level, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’ve long been aware that this issue comes up twice in Ezekiel, but I haven’t always been a faithful watchman. Help me indeed speak what You are saying, in warning, encouragement, blessing, and whatever else You want to do through me, so that people may be drawn into right relationship with You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!