But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statues, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die (Eze. 18:21).
According to our text today the wicked are those who have sinned. The Scripture declare that "all have sinned" (Rom. 3:23), so this promise is to all. Death has passed upon all humanity, because all have sinned (Rom. 5:12); but "if the wicked will turn from all his sins...and do that which is...right, he shall surely live." This is a universal promise to fill a universal need.
We have all sinned, and except we repent we "shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). There are two kinds of repentance. One is that of Judas, and the other that of Peter. One is the ice broken; the other, the ice melted. Judas was sorry for the results of his sin; Peter was sorry for his sin. After his repentance Judas went and hanged himself; but Peter, after his repentance, went to Pentecost. Real repentance is to turn from our sins and to walk in the ways of obedience; in other words, to "do that which is lawful and right." The thought here is Obey and live; disobey and perish. The truth of this is seen in the history of civilizations, of nations, of individuals. But even obedience is a gift from God, for it is of Him and through Him and by Him that we both will and do His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).
"There is no worse imprisonment," says George Albert Coe, "than inability to repent." The time to turn from our sins is now, before the groove of habit becomes so deep that we shall never care, or be able, to get out of it. The only difference between a groove and a grave is in depth. Let is turn from sin today, repent today, begin to walk in the path of obedience today; and we shall have God's promise of life, eternal life. "The Lord is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin" (Ps. 32:5).
According to our text today the wicked are those who have sinned. The Scripture declare that "all have sinned" (Rom. 3:23), so this promise is to all. Death has passed upon all humanity, because all have sinned (Rom. 5:12); but "if the wicked will turn from all his sins...and do that which is...right, he shall surely live." This is a universal promise to fill a universal need.
We have all sinned, and except we repent we "shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). There are two kinds of repentance. One is that of Judas, and the other that of Peter. One is the ice broken; the other, the ice melted. Judas was sorry for the results of his sin; Peter was sorry for his sin. After his repentance Judas went and hanged himself; but Peter, after his repentance, went to Pentecost. Real repentance is to turn from our sins and to walk in the ways of obedience; in other words, to "do that which is lawful and right." The thought here is Obey and live; disobey and perish. The truth of this is seen in the history of civilizations, of nations, of individuals. But even obedience is a gift from God, for it is of Him and through Him and by Him that we both will and do His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).
"There is no worse imprisonment," says George Albert Coe, "than inability to repent." The time to turn from our sins is now, before the groove of habit becomes so deep that we shall never care, or be able, to get out of it. The only difference between a groove and a grave is in depth. Let is turn from sin today, repent today, begin to walk in the path of obedience today; and we shall have God's promise of life, eternal life. "The Lord is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin" (Ps. 32:5).
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