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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES (EZEKIEL 33:1-7)

REFLECTION

“Choice and Consequences” is the theme for our reflection. A choice is the act of choosing between two or more possibilities. It is the freedom or possibility to express one’s will in making a decision. Consequences are the results of a particular action. It is usually unwelcoming or unpleasant. We shall reflect on the fact that

1. A preacher has the choice to proclaim the Word of God or not, however, there are consequences if he or she chooses not to preach the Word.

2. A listener has the choice to listen or not, however, there are consequences if he or she chooses not to listen or obey the Word of God.

Firstly beloved in the Lord, a preacher has the choice to proclaim the Word of God or not, however, failure to preach it would have consequences or ramifications. It was, for this reason that God said to Ezekiel, But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’ 7 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. (Ezekiel 33:6-7). In other words, a preacher is like a person positioned on the tower of a city as a watchman. His fundamental duty is to look out for danger and sound the trumpet to warn everyone about the impending danger. Preachers represent watchmen and the prophetic voice of God in every era. It is their responsibility to study the voice of God carefully, listen to His voice and sound the trumpet through the preaching of the Word so that humanity can turn to the Lord for salvation through our Lord Jesu Christ. For this reason, Jesus commissioned the disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:18-20). Again, Paul acknowledged the importance of the preacher or watchman’s role therefore he admonished Timothy, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage —with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:1-3). It is important to note that in as much as the pastor and other preachers in the church are watchmen (and women), the church as a body of Christ is the watchman of the world therefore, it is mandated to represent the prophetic voice of God in the world, calling people to repentance and salvation. This is where every mature Christian, filled with the Word and Spirit of the world is called to partake in the proclamation of the Gospel as a professional within the world of work, businessman or woman within the world of business, as a student on campus, and as an ordinary person on the streets and in the marketplaces. We are called as watchmen to sound the trumpet of the Gospel and judgment that will take place at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Second, listeners of the trumpet who may be anyone listening to the Word of God, have the choice to either heed the warning or disobey it. However, disobedience to the Word of God comes with consequences of one facing the wrath of God or losing his or her eternal salvation or life. Thus, … if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. 5 Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. “Ezekiel 33:4-5” God does not want anyone to perish therefore in every era He makes His Word and Will known to mankind through watchmen. The choice to heed to the Word of God and the consequences thereof is seen in the parables of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-33, The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, and the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25:31-46. Paul again reminds us concerning choices and consequences, when he wrote to the church of Corinth, “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) In other words, our salvation depends on our choice to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour or not. It is for this reason that Jesus assured us in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Put in another way, the consequence of not believing in God’s one and only Son is that we shall perish and not have eternal life. Dear friend, have you truly repented upon hearing the trumpet of the Gospel? Have you genuinely accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour to escape the wrath of God and Hell? Paul again sums up facts about choices and consequences when he wrote to the Christians in Rome, But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil…” (Romans 2:5-9). John further revealed to us the words of Jesus when he wrote, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (Revelation 22:12-15). What choices are you making now, would these choices grant you eternal life if God should take your life from you today? So long as you can read this reflection, it means you are alive and can still make a choice that pleases God and will grant you the grace and reward of eternal life.

In summary, we have reflected on the fact that a preacher is like a watchman over a city, he or she has the choice to warn people by proclaiming the Word of God or not, however, there are consequences if he or she makes the choice not to preach the Word. Again, a listener has the choice to listen or not, however, there are consequences if he or she chooses not to listen or obey the Word of God. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit may You continue to strengthen us to remain faithful watchmen of our generation even as we proclaim the Word of God in every corner of the world. May we never cease to preach Your Word in season and out of season so that many shall come to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.