Ezekiel 33:10-12 NIV “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?” ’ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’ “Therefore, son of man, say to your people, ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’” https://bible.com/bible/111/ezk.33.12.NIV
The brokenness of humanity proves the sinfulness, the rebellion against God humanity lives. It is a weight that cannot be carried by anyone. We all suffer the result of our own sin, the sin of others, and the sin inherent in the world that causes the disasters that destroy the lives of so many. This is why God has come into the world as one of us in Jesus the Savior. The wages of sin are death and then judgment, leading to condemnation and eternal suffering. God, Who is Just demands this but loves us so, has come to save us from this horrible and hopeless end. Jesus came as a man through a woman, though He was God in order to be fully man. Jesus lived a perfect life, as all of us are supposed to live. Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice to God, exchanging His perfection to be appropriated to us for our sins and our rebellion, and so was punished at the cross. Jesus rose from the dead, proving His offering was acceptable, the exchange available, and His promise of eternal life in peace with God attainable. This exchange occurs when we repent, when we turn from our wicked ways when we believe that Jesus’ perfect life and perfect sacrifice are the only means for restoring us to peace with God. This exchange continues as we faithfully obey God all of our days, not depending upon our religion or our own righteousness to save us. Were you baptized as a child? Did you used to go to Church? Did you pray once for Jesus to forgive you? Do you now live your own way, according to your own will, doing whatever is right in your own eyes? Repent, return, be restored, and obey everything Jesus commands so that you may live forever with God and all those who have loved Him faithfully for what He has done to the end of their lives on this earth to be raised and live forever on the new earth.
