Tolerance that Transforms

A Watchman

My blog “Begin Again With Nancy” is a calling to serve as a watchman to give encouragement, exhortations and warnings regarding God’s Word. God has many watchmen. He uses writers, preachers, evangelists, teachers and prophets. Because God has gifted me as a writer/teacher with Godly understanding, I am able to explain the relevance of God’s Word for today.

Recently, the Lord led me to Ezekiel 33:12-16. Please read it for yourself for the sake of content, then allow me to explain. In the preceding chapters, God has been speaking warnings through the prophet Ezekiel about impending judgment on the nations that were the enemies of Israel. He refers to them as the uncircumcised.

Circumcision was a covenant between God and Israel to set them apart from the world. He chose to use them to reveal Himself to the world. This is why they are called “God’s chosen people”. Ezekiel prophesies (speaks God’s word) about the uncircumcised. While this literally refers to those uncircumcised in the flesh, it also speaks to those with uncircumcised hearts, not yielded to God and His purposes. After the covenant of circumcision was given to Abraham, God gave the covenant of the law to Moses. However, the law was actually impossible to keep. It merely pointed to the need for a Savior.

In Ezekiel 33:7, God makes it clear that the prophet Ezekiel is His chosen watchman. He tells him to give a message to the children of his people. The Old Testament is God’s covenants with His people, and are a foreshadowing of the New Covenant, which is promised through God’s prophets. It is not just for Israel at that time, but points ahead to the future generations of God’s people. “A people who were not His people, shall be His people.” (Romans 9:15) “Not all Israel is Israel” (Romans 9:6)

Tolerance for the wicked and the righteous

God is saying through the watchman Ezekiel that no matter how righteous you are, if you trust in your own righteousness, on that day (or moment) you slip up, you will not be remembered for any of your righteous deeds. And on the other hand, the wicked (sinful) person shall be held accountable for their wickedness. But, if they turn away from it and repent, they will be forgiven and counted as righteous. This seems unfair, but God has said “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” (Romans 9:15) Who are we to question the tolerance of God?

Ezekiel’s prophesy had not yet been fulfilled at that time. It was a warning that was pointing forward to the coming Messiah and God’s perfect plan for salvation for all who call on the name of the Lord. “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) “If you confesses with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved” (Romans 10:9)

If you are trusting in your own righteousness, you have an uncircumcised heart. Though you think you are good, eventually you will slip up. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3: 23) Then you will go down to the pit with all those who have uncircumcised hearts, as it is written in Ezekiel’s prophesy. And if you are a wicked person (a mere sinner) who has violated God’s law in any way, and repent of your sin (accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior), then all your sin is forgiven and you shall be saved from the eternal pit of destruction. So it shall be for the righteous person who does not trust in his righteousness, but trusts in Jesus; if he slips up, he shall be forgiven, therefore, saved.

Transformation

God’s salvation is a free gift of His grace and mercy. By Jesus’ stripes we are healed, delivered from sin, sickness and disease, and anything that holds us captive. (Check out my former blogs “The Wilderness” and “Justice and Mercy in Affliction”.)

In Jesus you have the power and authority to shut the door on the enemy who comes to kill, steal and destroy your faith with his lies. You have the power to overcome the sin which trips you up, and be transformed into the righteousness of Christ.

“Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor besides God’s throne.” (Hebrews 12: 1-2 NLT)

Repent from your sin, move forward, don’t look back at your shame. Remember that “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Today, this “Ezekiel prophesy” is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and salvation is readily available, here and now.

If you confessed that prayer with your mouth and believe it in your heart, you no longer are considered to be one with an uncircumcised heart. You are transformed! Welcome to the family of God!

Thank you for reading my blog. Please share this with as many people as you can, and ask people to pass it on. You never know who needs to hear this message. Jesus is coming back soon! “Be on watch, be alert, for you do not know when the time will come.” (Mark 13:33 GNT)