Vital Signs: Wednesday, January 22, 2025

A Call to Self-Examination

“Then this further message came to me from the Lord: ‘Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by the evil way they lived. To me their conduct was as unclean as a woman’s menstrual cloth. They polluted the land with murder and the worship of idols, so I poured out my fury on them. I scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they had lived. But when they were scattered among the nations, they brought shame on my holy name. For the nations said, “These are the people of the Lord, but he couldn’t keep them safe in his own land!” Then I was concerned for my holy name, on which my people brought shame among the nations.

“‘Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations.’”

‭‭— Ezekiel‬ ‭36‬:‭16‬-‭22‬ (NLT)‬‬

Speaking for God, Ezekiel warns the Israelites over and over again about the repercussions of living unfaithful, ungodly, and unrestrained lives. They do not respond to the invitation to stop sinning, return to God, and experience great blessings. Blind and deaf to the truth, and unwilling to change, they choose their own path that leads to death rather than accepting God’s grace.

It’s a sobering reminder that we need to examine ourselves. When we see our sin and repent, God will restore us and nullify our sin, just as He promised to do for the wayward Israelites.