Delay No More
“26 The word of the LORD came to me: 27 “Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’
28 “Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign LORD.’ ””
Today’s Text: Ezekiel 12:17-28 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
When the mission team in Korea started our ministry there, we also started our devotionals in Ezekiel. Of all the books in the Bible, why did it have to be Ezekiel, with all of it’s gloom and doom and fire and brimstone?
But God is sovereign. And the word of God is the word of God. And God’s timing is always perfect.
Was God sending us a message about the reason why the young people of the ROK have become an unreached people group according to missions agencies? Was God sending us a message about our own role as stewards of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Reading Ezekiel is such that we could not NOT ask and think those things.
In the last five years, the world has experienced COVID, devastating fires and floods and earthquakes, political upheavals, and wars upon wars. As a believer, and especially as a pastor, it would be irresponsible of me to not make the connection between all of that tragedy, the sin of humanity, and the revelation of God.
Does that mean that the coming of Christ is imminent? Is the Sovereign LORD telling us: “None of My words will be delayed any longer”?
Not necessarily. But at the very least, as Christians, we ought heed the warning of Scripture. As stewards of the gospel, we ought to repent of our sins and intercede for this world and bear witness to the reality of the coming of Christ.
On our mission trip, as we started each day with devotions in Ezekiel, we were confronted with the possibility that Jesus might come back at any time, and that tomorrow (as we know it) will be forever different. But how does that affect my life today?
As Christians, it is OK—and even wise—to plan for our future as if tomorrow (as we know it) will just continue on. At the same time, it is smarter and wiser to plan for our future as if Jesus is coming back very soon.
Father, may Your words not be delayed any longer in my heart. I do want Jesus to come back soon, so let me prepare the way for the coming of the Lord, and me be start in my own heart. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
