Ezekiel 33:1-6
“Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 ‘Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: “When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3 when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head.
5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.”
In the last few months, I have seen and heard some things that make me wonder. There is a growth of Calvinism that has just taken off in the past few years. It is rampant here in Southern Ontario. The idea that Jesus only died for a select few is heresy at best. I have heard some even speak about babies, and if they die, then only the ones that God knew would be in the elect go to Heaven. All others are damned to Hell.
This is not the character of God. He would never eternally damn the innocent with the guilty. In 2 Peter 3:9, we are told that God is “not willing that any should perish.” If Calvinism is true, then this verse would be a lie. God actually desires that no man shall perish. Over and over again, we hear the call of “whosoever will” can come. The Jews were astonished to find out that salvation was granted to the Gentiles as well in Acts 10.
Ezekiel tells us in these passages that we are to be the watchmen. Why be watchmen if God has already determined who will die and who will live? We are told to blow the trumpet and warn the masses of God’s grace and also of God’s wrath. Once we are faithful to warn, then they are responsible for what happens to them.
One thing I seem to notice about Calvinists is that they are always sure that they are the chosen ones. Often, their kids are as well, but they are not sure about you and yours. This is arrogance shrouded in fake humility. They are in, and you are on the outs with God. But this is not the truth of the Bible. So, let us be faithful watchmen and watchwomen as we see the Day of the Lord getting closer and closer.
- Watch the Heavens
We are to keep an eye on the heavens. Jesus will call us to Him soon, and we should be living each day ready to be called. This means that we should be loving the Lord openly and with great fervor. We should love our siblings in the Lord with the same fervor, and by this, we can draw some to the Gospel, John 13:34-35. Read the scriptures, know what to look for, and keep our hearts from being deceived.
One of the things that seems to be growing is a lot of people claiming to have some ‘new’ or ‘special’ revelation from God. They do not. God has revealed to us, in the completed Bible, all we need to know, and nothing is to be added. Beware of people who want your money so that they can tell you what God has for you. They are fleecing you, for the most part. Even if someone is genuine, check the scriptures before you swallow their message.
Sadly, there are a lot of Christians who do not understand or even desire to understand the end of the church age. There are a lot of churches that shy away, and frankly, there are a lot of men who simply refuse to study and/or teach about the end times. It is hard work; it takes reading and studying, and it requires a commitment to search the scriptures. A lot of men are not ready to step into the next phase where Jesus comes as a Righteous Judge and makes war and executes judgment. But we are called to warn the people, yes, even the “so-called” saved people, that judgment is coming. Jesus will judge the saved and the lost.
Look at 2 Corinthians 5:9-11:
“So, we aspire to please Him, whether we are here in this body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad. Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.”
- Watch the People Around Us
Are you prepared spiritually and scripturally to share the Gospel? In these last days, are you ready to tell someone how to be saved, how to be ‘born again’? Sadly, most of us are not. One of the most important things for the watchmen was to know which trumpet sound to blow; was it a trumpet for war or peace? Was it a trumpet to scatter or gather?
As we get closer and closer, there will be people wanting to know about the Lord Jesus. Some will want to make fun; others will want to repent. Can you help the ones who want to repent? What we know for sure, according to the passage in Ezekiel, is that we will be held accountable for how we warned and even if we warned. God expects us to warn the people around us of the heaven to gain and the hell to shun. Are you and I doing that?
Here is a question for you: could you lead someone to faith in Jesus? Do you know what verses you would use?
Philip, in Acts 8, took Isaiah 53 and taught the Ethiopian Eunuch about Jesus. Could you have done that? Sadly, a lot of us Christians really could not do that. Here are some of the verses that you should have committed to memory; these will help you be prepared: John 3:16-18; Romans 3:10, 23, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9 and any others that you can think of. You should know the story of the ‘thief on the cross,’ his simple act of faith and belief – no baptism, no tithing, no church membership, nothing – just Jesus.
Take responsibility for those around you, pray for them that God would open their eyes, and be prepared to help them see once their eyes are opened. The Bible, the Word of God, is your only tool, Romans 10:17. Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. You cannot and will not argue nor philosophize a person into Heaven. Share the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit will take the TRUTH and change lives. If they refuse the free gift of eternal life in Jesus once they have heard, that is on them; you have done your job, dear watchman. Be prepared!
God bless you,
Dr. Sean Gooding
Pastor of Mississauga Missionary Baptist Church
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