“What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?” (Ezekiel 18:2).
TEXT — Ezekiel 18:1-18
Message
While in captivity in Babylon, the Jews twisted God’s flawless justice template by arguing that regardless of the children’s righteous living, they would still be punished for the transgressions of their parents. They believed their exile was as a result of their fathers’ sins, with little consideration for their own righteousness.
Nevertheless, the Lord sent His servant, Prophet Ezekiel, to correct them firmly. Promptly, the Lord set the record straight. The father or mother would bear the consequences of their wrongdoings. A justice-seeking God would not transfer the guilt or punishment of the departed or living parents to the godly offspring. Equally, He would not on account of the rebellion of the children, destroy their faithful parents.
We all ought to have a clear understanding of the Scriptures that God holds individuals answerable for their deeds. A person may spring from a godly home and yet disavow the holiness standard of the other members of the family. On the final day, however, “every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). This truth should guide against the danger of hiding in religiosity or nominal Christianity to engage in negligent living.
Scriptural parenting, the type received by Joseph, Samuel, Esther, Timothy and others, is necessary to raise God-fearing generations. In the long run, however, the Lord would not spare His judgment on individuals, parents or children, who spurned the teachings on holy living mandatory to make heaven.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
1 comment
Let us thank God for raising a man
like this in our dispensation. May we
be blessed through his ministration
in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Let us thank God for raising a man
like this in our dispensation. May we
be blessed through his ministration
in Jesus’ name. Amen.