God's Ways

Thus says the Lord GOD: If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?

And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die. 

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; since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. (Eziekiel 18:21-28)

Wow! “If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die.” However, if the “virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things…he shall die.”  What?!   Clearly, “The LORD’s way is not fair!” Wouldn’t we all agree this cannot be fair.  

Ah, but doesn’t this reading remind us of the one-lost-sheep parable and even the story of Prodigal Son?  It seems to bring to our attention the importance of someone finally seeing the light and our seeking out and embracing that person.  

This reading certainly gives sinners hope.  We are not condemned, but we can save ourselves by doing what is right and just.  We can be forgiven.

On the other hand, if a virtuous person flips to be wicked and do evil, there is far more at stake: “None of his [her] virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he [she] has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he [she] shall die.”  I conclude this is quite unfair!  

What about repentance?! Ezekiel had his audience; Jesus had his.  All of us mess up from time to time, and we ask forgiveness.  Perhaps it’s hard to understand how an evil doer having hurt or destroyed so many people can get a “redo” when finally acting right and just.  Too many of us say: “too bad and too late.”  Lent forces us to rethink our entrenched view that wicked sinners belong in hell and there is no salvation for them.  The LORD’s ways are not our ways, to be sure.  We tend to be vengeful.

Deacon David Pierce