Watchman, How Far Gone is the Night?

October 18
I was writing a note to a friend this morning when God gave me the following message for today’s devotional. The Apostle Paul apparently believed he had the kind of responsibility and calling that Ezekiel speaks of in Chapters 3 and 18 where he was told it was his responsibility to warn the house of Israel, which actually meant he was to warn individuals in Israel when they were living lifestyles that was dishonoring to their God (Ez. 3:16-21; 18:5-32). Ezekiel clears up a theological idea that runs rampant even today in some circles. It comes from an incorrect application and exegesis of Exodus 20:5, "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,” The operative phrase is usually left out, “of those who hate me.”

Of course the sins of the father are visited on the children when the children hate God as do their parents. And there is even a very natural sense in which the statement is true. An alcoholic or drug abusing father and/or mother usually takes three or four generations before it is worked out of the lineage of a man and/or woman. Part of the reason for this is physical addiction and part is environmental addiction. Both are serious problems and take a great deal of effort to break should one choose to do so. Unfortunately, psycho-babblers have convinced such behavior us a sickness rather than treating it as a sin; and there is just enough truth in that to make the problem even harder to fix from the human perspective. Certainly, both alcohol and drugs are addicting, Once one’s system becomes dependent on them, it is extremely difficult, and sometimes even dangerous to stop the use of them instantly.

Abusive parents often raise children who end up also being abusive to their children. It’s difficult to know what is normal behavior when one only has abnormal behavior to mimic. These things acknowledged, scripture makes it clear God can instantly and forever break such patterns of behavior (I Cor. 10:13; II Cor. 5:17). Ezekiel 3 and 18 have a specific and clearly written counterpart in the New Testament. Matthew 5:23, 18:15-17, Gal. 6:1, and James 5:16 direct us to be confessing our sins to one another and to confront those persons who are living in sin in a kind and gentle (but firm) manner. We are told to preach the word in season and out of season (II Timothy 4:2). We’re told to always be ready to make a defense for the hope that is in us (I Peter 3:15).

Most in the Christian community don’t believe we are experiencing persecution in America. I humbly suggest that is because we are not being obedient to our calling. Of course we aren’t being persecuted. We don’t take a stand on any of the issues that make people angry. We ignore the issues of homosexuality, women’s role the home and society, sexual perversion, pre-marital sex, disciplining children with the rod, and honor and integrity of leadership. I have spoken to dozens who call themselves Christians who don’t think a President’s sexual perversion engaged in the White House is any of our business. As long as our pocket books are full, who cares? Yet, over and again throughout scripture we see the strength of a nation begins at the top with its leadership.

Watchman, how far gone is the night? Jesus may come back for you or me at any time. Are you ready to go into eternity? Have you completed the task to which He has called you? Are you even aware He has called you to a task? Or are you reveling in the daytime and at night, thinking there’s plenty of time to do those things which our Master has called us to do. “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning--in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert.’” (Mark 13:33-37)