On the First Friday of Lent, we read from Ezekiel 18:21-28. In this passage, God is trying to teach his beloved children of Israel about sin. The following is the key to the whole reading:
You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!”
Hear now, house of Israel:
Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life
So often, we want to blame God for the consequences of our sin or the sin of others, and this reading shows us that we have everything backwards. We say God is not fair, but the reality is this: we turn away from God when we sin. Ezekiel even uses this language in the reading. God gives a warning for when “the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil.” He gives a blessing for when “the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed.” To sin is to turn away from God. To repent is to turn back to God. This is important, because the direction we are facing is the direction that we are moving. If we turn away from God and begin walking, we get further and further from him. If we turn toward him and walk, we get closer and closer.
One last bit of information completes our understanding of this reading: “For with [God] is the fountain of life, and in [his] light we see light.” (Psalm 36:10) God is the source of all light, joy, and happiness in the world. If we turn and walk away from him, the source of life, what do we expect to happen? We will become less and less alive, more and more full of sin, until we have completely lost sight of him and he no longer plays a part in our life. The only chance we have is to turn back to God, the source of life, and walk toward Him. As we journey toward Him, He fills with more and more life, light, and joy.
The road back to God is hard. It challenges and changes us, but it is the only way to life. God has given us the choice to walk toward him or away from him. Far from being unfair, God himself has granted us the freedom to draw near or walk away. We must accept the consequences of our decision, but it is truly our decision.
FM