In fact, if everyone knew of the twisted things I’ve thought and done, I doubt if anyone could ever love me. I know when I think about these past crimes, I am sickened, and absolutely despise myself.
And yet, the One who knows every single one of these horrific acts, counts me righteous. How is this possible? It is because I turned to Him as my Savior, and believe His promises. There is no other reason!
The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them. (Ezekiel 18:20)
Please understand – my actions are counted. All of them are known. There is no escaping the judgment to come, unless I turn away from them, and turn them over to the One Who Saves.
“But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live. Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? (Ezekiel 18:21-23)
How does God react to sin? Does God get a kick out of throwing people in hell? These verses from the prophet Ezekiel answers those questions. God sees what we do, knows what we think, and absolutely adores us regardless of all of it. This is a love that I cannot imagine. In this world, we are always watching and judging those around us. Those closest to us often seem the furthest from perfection, because we see and hear so much more of their actions than those who are distant.
Our God does not look at us the way the world does – think about this. He knows MORE of the awful things than anyone else on earth could ever know. Your very thoughts are to him the same as the spoken word or action. Yet He sent His Son to cover all of them. That’s the ONLY REASON Jesus came – to accept the punishment for all the detestable and shameful things we do.
Turn to Him – God is not like us feeble humans, who struggle to forgive the slightest fault or failure in those we love (let alone those we don’t).
Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? (Ezekiel 18:23b)
#LoveMatters