Ezekiel 33:10-16 (NLT)
10 “Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: You are saying, ‘Our sins are heavy upon us; we are wasting away! How can we survive?’ 11 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?
12 “Son of man, give your people this message: The righteous behavior of righteous people will not save them if they turn to sin, nor will the wicked behavior of wicked people destroy them if they repent and turn from their sins. 13 When I tell righteous people that they will live, but then they sin, expecting their past righteousness to save them, then none of their righteous acts will be remembered. I will destroy them for their sins. 14 And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right. 15 For instance, they might give back a debtor’s security, return what they have stolen, and obey my life-giving laws, no longer doing what is evil. If they do this, then they will surely live and not die. 16 None of their past sins will be brought up again, for they have done what is just and right, and they will surely live.
In this passage we find the exiles were discouraged by their past sins. They fought heavy guilt for living in rebellion against God for so many years.
This was an important turning point - elsewhere in Ezekiel the people had refused to face their sins. However, God assured them of forgiveness if the repented.
You see God wants everyone to turn to Him. God looks at what we are and what we will become, not what we have done. When God looks at us He doesn't see our sins, but sees our potential.
God gives every person the opportunity to turn to Him, so take it. His gift of forgiveness is free!!
Sincerely follow Him, with all your heart, soul and mind. When you fail Him, seek His unending forgiveness. We all fail Him along our journey, we must realize this and not dwell in our failures, but look to the future with God.
Be blessed in all you do, as you walk, talk, and spend daily quality time in His Word.
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