God’s Impartial Judgment
TEXT: Ezekiel 18:1-18
Key verse: “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4).
Born E. Eaton spent sixteen years in prison for a crime he did not commit. What a strange miscarriage of justice! Afterwards he said: “I didn’t have a dime in my pockets or a friend in the world when they put me on trial for armed robbery, that is why I spent sixteen years in prison for a crime committed by two other men while I was 1700 miles away. I am free now, completely vindicated. Life played a dirty trick on me in Circuit court at Rock Island Illinois in 1940.” This is one of few cases of miscarriage of justice in earthly courts. Miscarriage of justice could be intentional or by mere omission due to imperfection in the knowledge of men who made the pronouncement of guilt. Though this could happen here in earthly court, there will be no miscarriage in the court of heaven.
When men appear before God to give account for deeds done in the body “every transgression and disobedience will receive a just recompense of reward” (Hebrews 2:2). Shall not (God) the judge of all the earths do right? (Genesis 18:25b). This is the content of the text of today. God cannot overlook sin. He is not only faithful, but He is also just. He will not in anyway acquit the wicked, He will not allow the righteous to suffer the same fate of His wrath and punishment. God does not punish the children for the father’s sins unless they tread in their father’s steps. If a man be just he will surely live, saith the Lord God (vs. 9).
Every man shall give account of his life before God. The judgment of God can never be a collective one if sin is not collectively committed. Individuals will be held responsible for their actions and inactions. “Say unto the righteous, it shall be well with him but it shall never be well with the wicked” (Isaiah 3:10,11).
God has given us His son Jesus Christ to bear the penalty of our sins. Freedom from the wrath of God is guaranteed when a sinner repents and turns away from sin, accepts Jesus as his personal Lord and daily live in holiness and uprightness.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The soul that sins shall die.