Ezekiel 43:1 – 27
In this chapter Ezekiel presents modern humanity with the dilemma of many "if", "do" and "does" questions.
Do visions exist? Or, were they simply "zones" brought on by the use of imagination enhancing drugs? If God exists, why not believe that He can take a man into a visualization of truth? If God exists, does He have the right to insert Himself into our lives? If God exists does He have the right to expect certain things from our country?
Let's face it; arguments about those questions are raging in our culture today. There is an anger against Christianity in many people that defies explanation. Why, for instance, is Islam readily accepted as a peaceful religion (and I'm not saying that it isn't) but Christianity is consistently accused of being judgmental, hateful, exclusive, and ignorant? Why are the Christian characters in movies generally presented as the ignorant, the gullible, or the insane?
Could one of the most telling proofs of God's existence be the hatred often expressed toward Him? It is as though many know that He is real, but reject His claims on their persons.
Ezekiel's God is not one who obeys the commands of His world; He demands respect from His world and, according to the prophets of the Old Testament and Jesus Christ in the New Testament, He will one day have His way. Today, nothing happens that is not within His permissive will.
Ezekiel's vision of the altar reminds us that Ezekiel's God demands justice and punishment when it comes to sin. But, is sin real, or do people just make bad choices? Is it fair for God to declare what is sin and what is not? What is evil and what is not? Perhaps the answer to that question concerns why God makes His declarations. What works best in the lives of people?
Look at your world, including the wars, but also the love. Look at nature itself. Ultimately it is our decision as to whether we choose to believe that our lives are the product of accident or plan. When you envision your future, is it all you? Or, does God show your mind the possibilities for life? Ezekiel saw a future of hope; Jesus saw a climactic and glorious return to perfection for our world.
Perhaps the most important question for the people of God to decide is whether God should rule by His will or by the democratic consensus of His world. That seems to be the most contentious question in our country today.
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