My attention was bought to Ezekiel 33:6-7 this morning by someone saying that believers are like the watchmen in Ezekiel. In those days, they used to put watchmen in towers around the city walls, who would sound a trumpet if they saw danger approaching. When I read through verses 6-7, I realised that I am effectively a watchman for Jesus.
Jesus constantly told His disciples to watch out for danger to themselves, (Matthew. 7:15, 24:4, Mark 8:15, 12:38, 13:5) so that they would not be lost. But We are also watchmen for those who do not believe because they are in danger, they just don’t recognise it.
In Ezekiel, God is saying to the watchmen, if they get lazy or distracted and do not warn the town when danger approaches, they will be held accountable for the ensuing deaths. If, however, they warned the town and the people ignore the warning, their deaths would be on their own heads.
So it is with us now. If, as believers, we warn people about the danger of ignoring Jesus saving grace, and they then they choose to ignore it, their deaths will be on their own heads.
God goes on to say that he does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, he would rather they turn away from their sins and live!
Verse 12-26 tells us that the wicked can be saved by changing their mind and their ways – (repenting), then everything they have done previously will be forgiven and forgotten, but if a man lives a ‘righteous life’ and trusts in his own strength, then falls into sin, none of the righteous things that person previously did will be remembered, and he will die.
Verses 17-20 tell us that the people complained that this was ‘not fair!’ But God tells them that it is their ways that are unjust.
In effect, if you trust in yourself you will fail, but if you step out in faith and trust in God, you will succeed.
This is the message of Jesus;
Watch out, for The day of the Lord approaches, it will come like a thief in the night. (1 Thess. 5:2), but fear not, ‘I live, and because I live, so will you’ - believe it!!
It’s such a fabulous message. We know that whatever happens, we are safe in Him. We can see for ourselves that man’s efforts to rule himself and be his own god are failing miserably. We all know in our hearts that this cannot continue and the end is coming.
We are the watchmen for Jesus, a sign will appear in the heavens and the world will mourn when they see they see Jesus descend on the clouds. He will send out his angels, with a loud trumpet call, to collect His people from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31)
What we need to do is ‘turn, turn from our ways’ (Ezek 33: 11) and turn to our Heavenly Father through His one and only begotten Son, to be saved. He gives us salvation through his grace and favour in Jesus Christ. We don’t have to do anything to earn it, we just need to Believe it and not deny it!
This is how I understand my God. Read for yourself, see what you think.