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 Ezekiel 33:1-9


"The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, 4 then 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. 6 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. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved."

In this day and time, if someone has a concern over how a loved one is living out their life that is contrary to God's Word, the accusation is hurled "YOU ARE JUDGING ME! YOU ARE UNKIND AND HAVE NO RIGHT TO CRITICIZE WHAT I DO!"

Not every way of living will make for human flourishing, life as God desires for us to know and live in. If I don't speak into the life of someone I love what God's Word makes clear will bring ultimate destruction both now and in eternity, I am actually sinning against the person or persons who need a word of warning.

There is a way that seems right to a person who has no living relationship with God, but that way will bring destruction and decay in human relationships, destroy any foundation of real peace and ultimately end in forfeiting the eternal life God has provided for all who will believe Him, trust Him and follow Him in the Holy Spirit's power.

That surrender of human will and receiving from God what no one and nothing else could ever give is not some religious metaphor. It is a matter of life or death. I'm not "judging", as in condemning one to hell and eternal separation from God, to make an assessment based on what God has said will make for life and what will not. It is a desire that the ones I love not be lost both now and in eternity.

The watchman on the wall as the Lord God described it to Ezekiel was not damning anyone but was warning them about what was coming because of their choices and ignorant rebellion against the Word of God. The watchman was to warn them of the destruction that was already on the way. The trajectory of human choices devoid of the guidance of God will result in chaos of heart, mind and the emotions that our culture now worships and sacrifices anything to protect.

Refusing to see the truth, to listen to the truth of God's love in warning humanity of impending doom is not being "judgmental" but being as loving and kind as a person pushing another out of the way of an oncoming car.

The watchman is called to speak the truth so that, being warned, people might escape destruction on an epic level and receive the rescue of God, wholeness found nowhere else but in Jesus Christ.

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