“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.
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