Ez. 18-19
This proverb mentioned in Ezekiel 18:2 was also mentioned in Jeremiah. “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”. It seems that’s a way of saying that kids are punished for their parents’ sins. But God refutes this proverb. Why? Because, “all souls are mine,” He says (Ez 18:4a). God deals with each and every one of us individually; every soul is accountable to God for itself.
The neat thing about that statement is that it actually shows God’s care for each one of us. God says in verse 23, “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked…and not rather that he should turn from his way and live”? But sin is death – if we choose one we choose the other. It cannot be any other way. It is not God’s desire, but the choice is ours to make.
God expresses His desire for us again in verses 31-32. “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”. Here’s the thing, though – we can’t do any of those things. And here’s THE THING – we don’t have to because God did it all for us. “As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you” (Ez 36: 26). “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
2 Tim. 3
Paul wrote to Timothy about the difficulties to come; about those who oppose the truth. Again, this is something that I see everywhere these days – people, even those in the Church, rising up against the truth. The Bible makes it clear, however, that ultimately truth will prevail. Those who stand against it do so to their own destruction. The sad thing is that, as plain as it is, they refuse to see it. Paul said they are “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim 3:7). Man willingly believes what he wishes, but true knowledge comes from God.
What are we to do in the face of such opposition to truth? I think Paul would tell us what he told Timothy. “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it” (2 Tim 3:14). He goes on to point out that the Bible is “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 3:15b) and is God’s tool for teaching us how to live for and to serve Him. It is so true! The more I read it and seek to understand it, the more I see that it all tells that same message of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. We just need to make sure, as we study it, that we are seeking knowledge and wisdom from God and not from our own selfish ambitions.