Bible Pathway - September 13
Read Ezekiel 43 – 45
Highlights:
God's back (43:5)! Offerings on Holy Altar (43:13-27). Pay attention to God's rules (chap 44). Required to support His work and followers (chap 45). Keep the Passover commemorating Christ's death on the cross (45:21-24).
Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut (Ezek. 44:2).
This verse, just like so many others in the Word of God, has a spiritual application for our life even though it is speaking of a particular happening. The revelation here is a simple one. It is affirming the fact that God is in full control of every situation that can arise. There is nothing that has happened, is happening or will happen that is outside His realm of control.
This is not always the easiest thing to accept in the course of our daily lives. Bad things have a way of happening. We ask ourselves, if God has His hand in every situation then how did we get to such a hard place in life? How could God allow our lives to get so out of control?
This is not always the easiest question to answer. It is difficult to comprehend that, even though God is in control of all things, bad things are allowed to happen at times. We don't always understand the reasoning behind these happenings.
One of the main reasons that bad things happen in this world is sin. The world is now filled with much sickness, heartache, war, famine and death. It is the evil that is sin that causes these things to happen. Our enemy the devil entices mankind to perform the works of the flesh that bring about terrible situations. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21).
If it is sin that causes bad things to transpire, why do the innocent suffer along with the guilty? This is perhaps the most difficult of all things to understand. The problem is that the curse of original sin has been passed down upon us all from Adam, and it will be upon us until the world comes to an end. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Rom. 5:12).
This would make it seem that God is not in full control. Does the law of sin supersede God? No! God has superseded the law of sin with something very special called grace. God loved us enough that He chose to make a way that mankind could escape the death penalty that is hell's eternal prison. Jesus came to this planet and paid man's sin debt. All we have to do is accept the gift from God of eternal life. Through Jesus, this gift makes us free and clear of anything owed to this world or to our enemy the devil. Have you already received this precious gift of God?
God is in full control. If He opens it, it can't be shut. If He shuts it, it will never be opened. The Word of God was, is and always will be the final authority on all things.
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous (Rom. 5:19).
Thought for Today:
The narrow way to life is difficult, but success comes as we keep looking unto Jesus.
Christ Revealed:
As the glory of the LORD (Ezek. 43:4). Jesus is the brightness of His glory (the glory of God), and the express image of His Person (Heb. 1:3).
Word Study:
43:4 whose prospect is, which faces; 43:12 whole limit, whole border, territory; 43:13 higher place of, height of; 43:14 settle, ledge on which the priests stood; 43:17 squares, sides; 44:18 bonnets, turbans, headdresses; 44:22 put away, divorced; 45:24 meat, grain/cereal/meal.
Prayer Suggestion: Bless the Lord for your redemption (Ps. 103:4).
Optional Reading: Revelation 18
Memory Verse for the Week: Psalms 145:3
