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The Word of the Lord came to me … “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is My way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. … Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” (Ezekiel 18:1, 25-28, 30-32)
I wonder sometimes how it feels to God, to see the people He created constantly running away from Him in fear. I imagine it must be heart-breaking. From our point of view it is entirely understandable; we are broken, sinful people, and we know it, and our guilt and shame makes us afraid to be in the presence of God. But from His point of view? God actually has to tell us, “I have no pleasure in the death of anyone … turn, and live!”
If we stop for a moment and consider His words, of course they are true. It’s obvious! The good God who made all things could never be someone who enjoyed death, who wanted people to perish. Of course He is not that kind of person! It’s the devil who wants people to die, not God.
But our gut instincts are still to run away. No matter how we try, we can’t possibly carry out God’s words: “Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!” It just isn’t in us. We can’t help ourselves.
And God knows this, too. That’s why He came into our world as a human being, to become our Savior. Jesus came to save us who could not save ourselves—to take away all of our evils, and to give us the new hearts that mark the children of God. He did this for us through His own suffering, death, and resurrection. And isn’t that just like the good God we know, to choose death for Himself, incarnate as a human being, rather than for us?
So we can finally stop running. What we couldn’t do, God has done for us. His Holy Spirit has turned us, has given us faith and trust in Jesus, our Savior. We can stand before the Father because of Jesus—because the Triune God, who loves us, has made a way for us to live in joy and peace with Him forever.
WE PRAY: Thank You, Lord, for rescuing me when I could do nothing to help myself. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
- When have you felt most afraid of God? Why?
- How do you find help and comfort in Jesus?
- Read Romans 8:31-39, especially verse 34. What is Jesus doing for you right now?
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