God's love abiding law and the consequences of our decisions

“He who follows my statutes, and is careful to observe my ordinances, acting faithfully—such a one is righteous; he shall surely live, says the Lord God” (Ezekiel 18:9).

            For this 18-year-old youngster, such machine was more than just a horse. The specs for such stallion seduced him little by little to step on the gas and hear that 3.8 L V6 engine roar his 190hp @ 5250 rpm. He had heard such machine would break the quarter-mile at 130mph at fourteen seconds; he could already feel the adrenaline rush through his veins. Next thing he knows, he was being blocked by this black-and-white for the Bronco’s wheels were spinning around 50 miles over the speed limit.

 Being in front of the judge in a court of law is not easy. A city-salaried lawyer is appointed to you, people are all up on your business when they call you to step up in front of the judge, a couple of police officers on the corners stand by in case you need to be arrested, and one sitting up on a throne with a small hammer in his/her hands seems to be anxious to declare you guilty and throw you in jail for the rest of your life. However, I believe they are all nice people… deeply inside… They are simply holding someone accountable for their actions, something many Christians are not very confortable with.

So, the question is, it’s that why we pray a lot? For we do not want to be held accountable for our actions, so we beg for some grace? An entire book of believable pretexts would not do justice to the amount of excuses I built up on my mind to give to the judge when he asked me why was I racing through the city at 100+mph. He listened carefully, but not matter what I said, at the end of my speech he simply asked, “What do you want, son? A night in jail or an entire Sunday of community service?”

Ezekiel 18 turns an interest corner when it comes to our acts, judgment, and justice. The prophet makes emphasis that every body has the freedom of will to choose between good and evil, and the consequences of such decisions will inevitably follow.  God’s statutes and ordinances have already been set forth, and He expects for us not only to believe on His love abiding law but also to follow it. But, “Where is the grace?” some would ask. Well, grace was poured out on a cross around 2,000 years ago. And not just grace but amazing grace. This grace was shed for the forgiveness of sin, and does not symbolize a “get-away-with-anything card.”

            The Lord finishes chapter 18 of Ezekiel by stating that He does not delight in the flaws of His children, admonishing to turn from our transgressions, and promising to give us a new heart and a new spirit when we decide to turn from them. Freedom of will is splattered all over scripture, and the Lord has given us the knowledge to differentiate between good and evil.

Therefore, on this day, may you choose to worship your Creator with actions; following His statutes, carefully observing His ordinances, and acting faithfully and certainly you shall surely live, says the Lord of hosts.

Looking at life from a different perspective

For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me

While we are constantly looking forward for God to respond our prayers, He Himself also awaits anxiously to answer each and every single one of them. “God, give me the opportunity to witness to one of your special children on the plane. Whoever I sit next to, prepare our hearts and simply bless.” This was my prayer a couple of months ago as I was buying my Christmas-break plane ticket. Certainly, God was looking forward for this moment.

It was a rough week. Final examination’s days are the most challenging time of the semester. It was the reciprocal feeling among several friends that this semester, by far, has been the most demanding one of our entire college career. But we all made it; some running, others jogging, and a few of us crawling with a sore throat and a fever on the side with no energy whatsoever to celebrate. Sleep deprived and all, I sat at window-seat 28A with the hope that the eagle would come thru with his promise to take me 7,000 miles across the American continent. Right next to me sat Luz María.

            Jesus, on the other hand, was also hoping that I would come through with my promise I made two months ago. “Are you a Christian?” Luz María asked.  “Oh snap! The prayer!” I immediately thought.  “Yes”, I replied. And then her question followed: “There are so many things in the Bible that are really hard to understand, you know?” I silently prayed… “God, lead.”

            But what kind of question would she asked? “Bring it on,” I thought. It’s time to unload all that theology I’ve learned during these semesters. Will I tell her about the Qal, Nifal, Piel, Pual, Hiphil, Hophal, and Hithpael Hebrew stem? About the historical Jesus and it’s theology? Or maybe about how we can look at the NA²⁷ and the variants of the text so we can come to a better translation of the passage for a superior understanding? Naw, I think she’ll ask about some contradictions the Bible seems to project; I’ll answer with some hermeneutics’ principles.

            Her question, “My daughter suffered an accident in the middle of her 15^th birthday party, and has been laying on a bed for the past six years; she is a vegetable. Why did God allow that to happen?” She continued on expressing her sadness and desire for things to be differently. I, on the other hand, went blank. How do you reply to such question?

            Nevertheless, Jesus was leading the conversation. After sharing a few verses with her, we landed on Matthew 25:33: "For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.” 

           

            I then whispered, “Do you know that when you bath, feed, clean, kiss and hug your precious child on that bed, you are bathing, feeding, cleaning, kissing and hugging Jesus himself? You, Luz María, have the privilege of having a very intimate relationship with our savior through your special daughter. “ While looking at the horizon, at 34,000 feet in the air, with a peculiar smile she replied, “Wow! I had never seen it that way!” A “thank you” and a prayer concluded our conversation.

            The lack of an associate, bachelor, and/or a master degree in religion is not an impediment for God to use you mightily to witness and touch His people’s hearts. Remember that the Holy Spirit is the one who convinces of sin. Therefore, I invite you today to pray the prayer that will enable you to become and instrument of the Lord and be part of the blessing to change someone’s perspective of life. You can change a one today. You are only one short prayer away.

Blessings!

Sergio Ochaeta