Ezekiel 18: A New Heart and a New Spirit
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Written on December 17, 2010 and posted today as a Favorite . . .
The prophet also foretells the story Jesus describes in Luke 15 who leaves his ninety-nine sheep to go in search of the one that is lost. We are told by both prophet and Savior that we are as precious to God as that one sheep. This story is told as an illustration of God’s determination to call us – we may one day have need of this persistence.
Ezekiel tells the people in exile that they must move beyond these old proverbs and customs of believing that the sins of one generation are visited upon another. He foresees what Jesus tells, that there will be a Messianic Age when we are released from the old and given a new heart and a new spirit – this spirit is forgiveness – this heart is love.
This is wonderful news! Yet, it brings with it a reality that we may not want to hear. With this newness comes the responsibility to return and repent. We cannot expect that the good we have done will somehow outweigh the bad; yet we have the certain knowledge that all Ezekiel has foretold is true. God will persist in calling out to us as we wander lost and alone. And God has a heart large enough to repair any damage that has been done either by us or to us – for we have this promise from the prophet Ezekiel that we see fulfilled in our brother the Christ. Jesus has died yet lives. Jesus returns for us . . . so that we might live. The Spirit abides with us . . . and brings us this new heart . . . this new spirit . . . as a gift from God. All we need do is reach out our hands, and open our hearts.
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord God. Return and live!
A re-post from December 16, 2011.
Images from: https://thenoontimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/jacobwillemszdewetdasm11.jpg and http://www.ideachampions.com/heart/archives/quotes/index.shtml
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