Read

Ezekiel 5:1-9:11

Ezekiel 7:2-4, “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to the land of Israel: ‘The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land! The end is now upon you, and I will unleash My anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look on you with pity; I will not spare you. I will surely repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Think

A criminal sits before a judge and is sentenced to life in prison for the crimes he committed. He broke the law and receives his sentence. For the judge to be a good judge, he must administer justice. There must be a consequence for the crime.

We don’t like to talk about it, but God is a just God; it is a part of His character. We must choose to submit to His authority in our lives, turn from our sin, and recognize our need for salvation through Jesus Christ. Or, like Israel, we can choose our own path and decide to face Judgement Day based on our own merits.

God has made known the endgame. Every person will face eternity — either with Him in heaven, a place of absolute perfection, or totally separated from Him, in isolation and unending despair. Either way, every knee will bow before Him, and every tongue will confess Him as Lord before reaching one of two final destinations. It’s scary to think about, but the choice is up to us — and His way is always the best way.

God’s justice is great, but His grace is even greater! You can enjoy your life on a whole new level — packed with purpose, loaded with unfailing love, full of freedom, and abounding in the assurance that you’ve been rendered a “Not Guilty” verdict through Christ!

Pray

Lord, You are a just and gracious God. Sin requires a payment — this shows Your justice. Through Jesus Christ, You paid my debt and demonstrated Your grace. I choose to follow You as the Lord of my life, and I turn from my sins. Thank You, Lord, for saving me! Let my actions today reflect You, and let my mouth be bold to share with others. Amen.