Today’s reading (Ezekiel 23) talks about two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, who became idolatrous. Oholah continued in her lustful ways and was eventually turned over to her lovers who killed her with the sword. Even though her sister Oholibah saw this, she was even more corrupt than her sister had been. She carried her corruption even farther by lusting after men portrayed on a wall, which symbolized idols. The Lord told her that he would stir up lovers against her and that they would come with weapons for her.
Verse 29 speaks to us very clearly because the Lord told Oholibah, “those you hate will deal with you in hatred and take away everything you have worked for.” Wonder why the Lord would be so harsh to her? Read verse 30 carefully. The Lord told her that she has brought this upon herself. God has mercy and grace for us and allows us a “grace space”, but when we totally ignore his presence, I believe he has to eventually deal with us accordingly.
Jumping down to Ezekiel 24:13-14, God gives us another example of his “grace space.” God has put up with idolatrous acts for a while now and tried to cleanse them for as long as he can. He says in verse 13, “I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity,” so He then says that they would not be clean again until his wrath for them has settled. What if God no longer allowed you to ask for forgiveness and or allowed you to be cleansed from your sins? Even though these events took place long ago, it’s still hard for me to take in the following verse. The Lord spoke, “The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I change my mind. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declared the Lord.”
It’s time we get our act together and quit playing games. God may be on his last straw with us before he says, “ENOUGH!” This world is filled with filth, hatred, and rebellious people, and I believe it’s about time that God says, “Enough!” If God is going to judge us by our conduct and actions, don’t you want to have yours in line? Let everything we do be done for the Lord!
Verse 29 speaks to us very clearly because the Lord told Oholibah, “those you hate will deal with you in hatred and take away everything you have worked for.” Wonder why the Lord would be so harsh to her? Read verse 30 carefully. The Lord told her that she has brought this upon herself. God has mercy and grace for us and allows us a “grace space”, but when we totally ignore his presence, I believe he has to eventually deal with us accordingly.
Jumping down to Ezekiel 24:13-14, God gives us another example of his “grace space.” God has put up with idolatrous acts for a while now and tried to cleanse them for as long as he can. He says in verse 13, “I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity,” so He then says that they would not be clean again until his wrath for them has settled. What if God no longer allowed you to ask for forgiveness and or allowed you to be cleansed from your sins? Even though these events took place long ago, it’s still hard for me to take in the following verse. The Lord spoke, “The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I change my mind. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declared the Lord.”
It’s time we get our act together and quit playing games. God may be on his last straw with us before he says, “ENOUGH!” This world is filled with filth, hatred, and rebellious people, and I believe it’s about time that God says, “Enough!” If God is going to judge us by our conduct and actions, don’t you want to have yours in line? Let everything we do be done for the Lord!
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