How would we act if all the people around us knew everything that we do and everything that we think? I am sure this is not a question that we often ponder. I know that it is not something that I thought about until I read Ezekiel eight. This past weekend I posted something on Facebook to the effect that often what we know and remember about the Book of Ezekiel is the section about the dry bones. Yes, I have preached on it and I even noted that I did a blog last year on that section of Ezekiel. It is God’s Word so therefore it is to be read, preached, and applied to our lives. But because I was recently studying in Ezekiel eight, I felt that I would share with you some of my thoughts. This chapter of Ezekiel is all about the vision of the abominations in Jerusalem. As I said it is part of God’s Word, so therefore critical for us.
These abominations that we see in this chapter of Israel, as bad as they are, become no match for the glory of God. In Ezekiel 8:1-4, we see the power of the Holy Spirit lifting Ezekiel to see what is taking place in Jerusalem. What we find is Ezekiel being lifted so that he can view the “seat of the idol of jealousy.” But, overriding this we find that what Ezekiel saw there first, was the very presence of the glory of God. Verse six then points us to the removal of God from the sanctuary. It was the actions of the people turning to their idols that drives the glory of God out of the lives of the people. God will never force Himself on His people. He will never force us to see His glory if we choose to turn from it.
What we see happening in the opening verses of Ezekiel is then continued in this chapter. Perhaps as we read it, we shake our heads at the audacity of those committing these abominations. Ezekiel 8:16 paints us a devastating picture of 25 men turning their backs to God in prayer. and praying to the direction of the sun. Again, maybe this angers us and drives us to say, “How could they do that, God, do not allow this to happen.” We know the ultimate result that happens in Ezekiel. The glory of God is removed from the temple and the presence of the people. Yet, let us be clear that this was the choice of the people. God does not force Himself.
I will now go back to the question that I posed in my opening paragraph of this blog. The question was about how would we react if people knew everything that we do and think? I offer that we might live a different life. If you have read any of my previous blogs, you may now guess the question that I am going to write here. How would we act if God knew everything we do and think? The only answer to that question is, “He already does know.” Would we act differently if people knew? The answer is most likely, “Yes.” Think about it now, God knows. I wrote two statements in my journal that I will share with you as my response. First, I wrote, “Lord you know me and everything I do and think, yet You forgive me.” A second item that I wrote was, “Lord, I am capable of not following You, and not honoring You in my thoughts and deed, let me always turn to You and seek Your will.” The mercy and grace of God far exceeds anything that we can think and do. Rather than think about how we would react if people knew everything about our actions and thoughts, perhaps we can think about how to never miss a moment of God’s glory as He sees and knows everything about us. God bless all of you and thank you for reading my thoughts. Praise God for His love and forgiveness of each of us.