Several years ago, I was leading a Bible study class, and I remember a man coming to me after the class was over. He had made a gigantic wreck of his life through bad decisions, and he was hoping that it wasn’t too late to turn things around.
He wanted to know if there was a chance to salvage what remained of his life. I was happy to share with him the same message Ezekiel gave his audience: if you turn to God, it’s never too late.
But if the wicked turn away from all their sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is lawful and right, they shall surely live; they shall not die (Ezekiel 18.21).
The first 18 chapters of Ezekiel carry a strong message of doom and gloom. However, God is not intent on delivering only destruction and judgment to a sinful nation. In fact, His true desire is for them to choose life.
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live? (Ezekiel 18.23).
Repentance
In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), the young man leaves home but eventually “comes to himself” while living in a hog pen. He realizes that his father’s servants are better off than he is in his rebellion. In that moment, he decides to return home—a powerful image of repentance.
In the following verses, Ezekiel highlights three aspects of repentance that mirror the actions of the prodigal son.
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin.
Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live (Ezekiel 18.30-32).
(1) Repent and Turn From – Repentance is an action. It involves stopping behaviors that oppose God and starting to live according to His desires. In Ezekiel’s time, repentance meant turning away from idol worship. The people had blended idol worship with the worship of Yahweh, and this needed to end.
Repentance also meant treating others according to God’s commandments, including the principle found in Matthew 7:12: “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you.”
(2) Cast Away – Repentance involves removing things from our lives that might draw us back to old behaviors. For the Israelites, this meant tearing down altars or destroying idols that had taken the place of God.
For us, it may mean deleting certain media from our phones or computers, avoiding specific places, or distancing ourselves from people who could lead us back to former habits.
These decisions can be challenging, but ultimately, God’s goal for us is to experience a transformed life.
(3) New Heart and New Spirit – Someone familiar with Alcoholics Anonymous might see this command to gain a new heart and a new spirit as describing a “psychic change.”
The phrase “psychic change” refers to a profound mental and spiritual transformation that fundamentally alters a person’s thinking, attitudes, and behaviors.
It’s understood that without this deep shift in perspective, lasting recovery is difficult, as old habits and thought patterns often drive one back to addiction.
Later in the book of Ezekiel—and more clearly in the teachings of Jesus and Paul—we learn that this “psychic change” can only happen through the grace of God.
God offers to remove our old, self-centered hearts and replace our willful spirit that insists on living life on our own terms.
Instead, He gives us His Holy Spirit, who leads us into the abundant life that God desires for us, the very life we often seek in the wrong places.
One of the joys of studying the Bible is recognizing areas in my life where I’m not aligned with God’s direction for the best life possible. Even at 75, I can still identify areas that need changes that are not only necessary but also beneficial for living the best life.
YouTube Video
Normally, I produce videos with Rudy Ross and Bruce Kirby. We had technical issues this week, so I am recording this video by myself today. We’ll be back tomorrow with Bruce and Rudy.
Real Voices 