Ezekiel 37:23 " Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. 24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever."It's all about Jesus! "David my servant" is Jesus Christ. He shall be king over Jacob, or the true church. "Jacob" is Israel and Israel is of what Ezekiel is speaking. Israel represents the Church, those who follow Jesus.
Let's look at this "land" which is really the kingdom of God. It has rules and it's inhabitants are expected to be good citizens:
- No idols allowed. The main idol of each is "the flesh". It's the part of us which takes pleasure from the world. As such we are to have Christ-esteem and not self-esteem. Whatever we do to elevate ourselves diminishes God. We are to be meek. Meekness is being humble, submissive and compliant. It's a servile attitude. Servants serve he Master and make their own position secondary. Self-esteem is a lie of the devil. It's the serpent hanging over the heads of men to make them "as gods". But you say "Some people despise who they are!" Scripture says (Ephesians 5:29) "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church." Even that person who turns to suicide is making a desperate attempt to be recognized because indeed he loves himself.
- They are not to do detestable things. Those things which are not to be done is anything which is disgusting or hateful. Who decides what is? God! It's God speaking through Ezekiel and he decides what is what. Man's attempt to determine good and evil is merely their way of being "as gods". Men making the rules for civilization is setting up themselves as their own god. Notorious for this were the Caesars, Napoleon, Robespierre, Hitler, Stalin, oftentimes some popes and now even Obama. Whether anyone likes it or not anyone in opposition to Christ is an antichrist. Another one is a candidate for president of the U.S. and many Christians follow these people! There are lists in scripture of disgusting (abominable) things. Paramount is same-sex behavior and lasciviousness of all kinds. Men dressing as women and vice-versa is detestable to God. Abortion, the ticket to promiscuity, is murder and is quite detestable, but yet even so-called Christians do "what's right in their own eyes"!
- We are not to do any of "their transgressions". As such scripture tells us Deuteronomy 18:9 "When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.", yet Christians copy them with their yoga, meditations, and even cuttings and tattoos! Leviticus 19:28 "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord." But you say "What I want is more important than what God wants!" You tattoo or pierce to adorn yourself and disregard what God tells you. It's your idol which does "what's right in your own eyes"!
- Doing works. Those who believe in sola gatia (grace alone) are right about doing works to save, but minimize the works which result from salvation. "they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them." Ezekiel was saying the same things Jesus said centuries later (John 14:15) "If ye love me, keep my commandments." In addition that "one shepherd" they are to have is Jesus Christ. They do only what he wants! Shepherding is protecting the sheep. The sheep have boundaries. It's the shepherd's statutes which keep the lambs safe. We trust the shepherd and avoid what the world desires us to do. Political Correctness is the wolf in sheep's clothing which shall devour the flock unless the shepherd is followed. My friend just had a Christian girlfriend who believed in same-sex marriage. To his credit he quit dating her because she was being shepherded by the wolves. He will never be sorry for this difficult thing he was led to do. Jesus was his shepherd and protected him from the she-wolf!
- The kingdom of God is where Christians shall dwell. " I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God." It's from pagan lands from which Christians shall be saved. Jesus saves us from the world which deceives our flesh. Out flesh is good for lone thing: "to sin" and people adorn that flesh with things which appease it. Jesus will wash all that adornment from the flesh. You see, what we do and how we dress ourselves is a reflection of where the heart is! Those artful decorations which are in vogue now are dressing up our idols for others to admire! Why else would God say not to do things the pagans do? After cleansing "they shall be my people". When Jesus cleanses using his own blood, that's when we become citizens of the kingdom of God. When we reside there we quit doing things of the nations and there is where "God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven"! There is no sin in heaven and we are not to sin here. When Christians are citizens of the kingdom of God is when they allow God to be their one and only God. That's the nation where Christians quit worshiping their own idol and as such do what most people despise doing: CHANGE! Becoming a new person in a new Kingdom!
- It's forever! "And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever." We turn to Jesus for eternal life. It shall never end! Where else is this promise to be found? As Prince of this world supplanting the pretender "Prince of the Air" (Satan) we follow the royal decrees of Jesus. We quit doing what the other false prince wants and do the will of God. Just look at yourself; inside and out. If another was to look at you, in what nation do you live? Is it the world or is it the kingdom of God? Who is your Prince? Is he Satan or Jesus Christ? A book is known by it's cover. If you are in the apparel of Satan how is it that your Lord is Jesus? Appearance matters because they are a reflection of what's inside.
I don't make the dictates of God. I do understand them though. I admit; the things of the flesh are hard things not to do, but we get credit for trying! The outward things are easy. What's hard are the things of the heart. By changing what's outside shows a desire to make the things inside right. It's a willingness to change for God and it starts with the flesh! When the outside things begin to change it's a sign that the heart is changing. It shows a willingness to obey what God commands.
Sure, we can fake them. People are like professional wrestlers: it looks real, but it's not. The referee knows it's fake and so do the mature watchers. Only the children or child-like are fooled. The same goes for hypocrisy. If it's fake everyone knows it! However, we can change for God and it is pleasing to him. He even commands it!
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