Cruising Route 66
“Being Called to The Wall”
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.
Ezekiel 33:1-5
In today’s world, if the train signal is flashing, and someone is foolish enough to ignore it and is struck by the train, the railroad becomes the defendant of the lawsuit. This is not unreasonable if the railroad failed to make sure all the required precautions were functioning properly. But today that doesn’t seem to matter. We live in a world that focuses more on blame than responsibility.
God says that the liability rests with the one who refused to listen and act wisely. The watchman is called to watch and warn when danger approaches. If his warning is not heeded, then it is not the fault of the watchman. But even though the world around us appears to be overrun by foolish, irresponsible people, we must never assume that we are no longer required to give them a warning.
It’s hard to watch people you love reject the peace and joy that comes with knowing God’s grace, yet to care for their souls motivates us to give a warning, to share the hope that only God can provide.
We are to be burdened for the souls of others, but we are not to carry the burden of guilt if they do not listen.
Ezekiel 33:6 “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.”
Are we the twenty-first-century “watchman on a wall?” If we are, then what kind of warning are we to give?
Ezekiel 33:7-9 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.”
I have heard it said that Christians are poor beggars, showing other poor beggars where to find bread. The bread of life was sent in order to feed all people, not just a few. Those who know where to find it must now share it. As Christians, we are to share what God has done for us so that others may experience that same blessing.
We all love to sit in the seat of judgement, but we are not the ones given the job of convicting the world of its sin, that’s the Holy Spirit’s job. We just point out the dangers that are coming and the hope that is available. And it doesn’t matter where your heart may be, God can make it right! I’m not talking about a “bypass,” or some spiritual “angioplasty.” No, He will put within you a new heart that will be guided by His love and grace.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Until next time,
Ben
