Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
When we are left to our own devices and our own reasoning, we can come up with some of the wildest ideas. Our concept of who God is and what it is that he wants to do in our lives has been warped by our sinful nature. Let us simply look at this verse and see the wonderful grace and mercy of God that is found here. Let us understand that he must judge sin, but he has made a way for our redemption.
He has “no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” God does not get joy out of judgment. He is a God of love, and he is love personified. Love is who he is. The Bible tells us in 2 Peter 3:9 that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” That is what is being said here in Ezekiel. He wants the wicked to turn from their destructive ways and live.
Some may ask, then why does he judge? Why do people go to hell? The answer is because God is holy, and his holiness cannot allow sin to rule and reign. He cannot cohabitate with sinfulness. He hates sin so much (and loves mankind so much) that he sent Jesus Christ into the world to pay man’s sin debt. His payment satisfied the Father’s holy requirements. When Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” (John 14:6) he is telling us the good news that there is a way that we can escape the judgment of God. It is through what Christ has done for us. Apart from Christ’s sacrificial blood payment, there is no way for us to avoid the judgment of God. We must receive Christ and his payment for sin, or our condemnation is assured. We must turn to God in repentance and believe the gospel or judgment will be our end.
Yes, God is a God that will judge but he is also a God of grace and mercy who has made the way for us to be reconciled to him through the holy sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Don’t think that God finds pleasure in judgment. He finds pleasure and great joy when someone receives Jesus Christ as their Savior and they become reconciled, redeemed, and regenerated through the finished work of Calvary. If we stand before God’s final separating judgment it is because we have denied the only means of reconciliation that is found in Christ. Don’t blame God. He has made the way for us.
Hebrews 3:15-19
15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
In Christ's Service,
Bro. Adrian Moore
2 Cor. 4:5
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