Scripture: Ezekiel 18:25-29; Ezekiel18:30-32; Revelation 16:5-7
Have you ever considered what the word “righteous” actually means? For many, the concept ranks right up there with “holy”, and it scares them half to death! Is it one of those attributes of God that we can only strive for? That it means that we have to attain perfection first? That it is something that we can work toward, but never actually arrive at?
Well, it is true that we will never become as righteous as God is, but that doesn’t mean that we can never gain that status for our own life! Some of the meanings of the word imply concepts such as just, moral, good, honest and honorable – all being terms that should define our Christian life. Of course, holy and sinless are also part of a righteous life, but remember that by faith in Jesus Christ, all of our sin is forgiven, and through faith, we become the children of God – which means that we are blessed by our heavenly Father with His holiness!
In Paul’s introduction to his letter to the Romans, he writes “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people” (Romans 1:7) Are you beginning to see the hope and promise that resides in living the righteous life? It is all contained within our rejection of the ways of earth, and surrendering to the way of God by faith in His Son, Jesus the Christ. We need to remember, though, that this, and all that the LORD is, simply defines what God is all about. And His great gifts to us, those that come to us by faith, are not for our benefit! They are for us to share with others – those who have yet to discover what a relationship with Jesus can be for their life!
And God’s attributes are not what make us better – they allow us to help others to become better!
Read Ezekiel 18:25-29
Let’s consider one of the synonyms that I mentioned earlier – that of “Just”. In Micah 6:8, we read that we don’t have to decide what the LORD wants from us. The fact is that God will always show us what to do and even how to do it, and the only thing we need to do is to follow Him. Sharing what the righteous life can bring is just one is one example of how the LORD can reach out through us. First, the LORD showed us, and next, we are to show others. And a “just life” is only one of these characteristics.
The problem, though, is that there is an incredible conflict between the world’s version of justice, and God’s! The prophet Ezekiel begins to address this very issue. The faithful know that the way of heaven is good and right, but that is something that requires a major change from the worldly way that we once lived. The world will always believe that they are right and that God is wrong, which Ezekiel tells us is just backwards! But this isn’t just a difference in opinion – it’s a difference in truth, a difference in attitude, a difference in living.
Is God unfair or unreasonable in the life He desires for us? Is it unjust that He calls us to live a life that He has defined and established for us? Is it wrong for God to want His creation to want to be with Him? We can’t live both, for both ways will never work together – we must choose one or the other!
Read Ezekiel 18:30-32
At the time of Ezekiel’s prophesy, the Babylonians had already taken many of the people of Judah into captivity. Both kingdoms, the Northern and the Southern, had decided that their worldly ways were more appropriate than the one that Jehovah God was calling them to live. A great part of the people were exiled in foreign lands, and the remainder were enslaved back in their own nation. By this time, the truth of which way was right should have become obvious to them, but instead, the people thought that God had caused their defeat and had sent them into this new and unwanted life to die.
Truth? It was the people’s sin that caused their current demise, and the prophet reminds the people that God is the one who judges, and that His decisions are always right and just. And the judgment wasn’t that they had to be punished, but rather that they weren’t ready for rescue until they had learned His ways. Jehovah’s benevolence would, one day, come to the Jews, but it would be 70 years before that day could become theirs. This would be a time of learning about God’s plan, and it would come from another one of His prophets. In Jeremiah 29:10-14, they were reminded that their “just” and “righteous” LORD had always put their very best to work. And His plan is designed to “prosper” them, and to bring them “hope and a future”. And the world’s plan? It’s just a plan that is based in unrealistic desires, and usually in unattainable goals.
God takes no pleasure in any person’s trials, or hurt, or death – He only rejoices when they accept the very best that He sends.
Read Revelation 16:5-7
This passage opens with the thought that God has existed forever – He is Eternal, and has seen it all! He is all wise and all knowing – He is Omniscient, He is the source of all that is - He is Creator of all that is, seen and unseen, His understanding is infinitely correct and beyond comprehension, He is faithful in all that He says and promises, and His ways are just and right.
The prophesy also tells us that the trials and persecutions that others have subjected His faithful to will be avenged. The reference to drinking blood is reminiscent of Israel’s story of the 10 plagues in Egypt which would eventually lead to their release from that bondage (Exodus 7:16-10). God’s justice, and righteousness, and faithfulness, are always perfect, even when He allows us to make our own choices that bring about our own condemnation. But in His faithful righteousness, our LORD God Almighty is prepared to forgive us our sin, and welcome us back into His mercies.
The problem with humanity is that in the eons that have passed since creation brought us into existence, we think that we have gained so much wisdom that we know it all! And yet, there is still so much that we don’t know, and even more that we only think we know!
And the point of today’s theme – the Righteousness of God – is that there is so much that we will never understand about ourselves, and so much more that we will never understand about our Creator, that we need to start leaning upon His goodness, His love, His perfect ways, and above all, upon His just and righteous heart. And whether we understand it or not, and whether we believe it or not, our letting go of the ways of earth will bring the greatest joy to both our Triune God and the great host of heaven. In Luke’s gospel (Luke 15:10), we read “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Isn’t it much better when we give the LORD cause for rejoicing, instead of burdening Him with sorrow over our impending condemnation? His way is always “right”, while ours is only right through our own imagination and inadequate reasoning.
Won’t you give God a chance to work within your life?
TODAY!
