Ezekiel 18:24

But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die. (Ezekiel 18:24)

Three points:

1. Some people feel that if they do more good than evil, God will let them into heaven.

They hope the balance tips in favor of good, hoping they have done more good than evil.

2. Righteous can become unrighteous.

Some turn from doing what is right and start doing what is evil. In our passage's context there are some things listed that are evil.

Then suppose this man has a son who robs and kills, who does any of these things that the father never did. He eats sacrifices offered at forbidden shrines and seduces other men's wives. He cheats the poor, he robs, he keeps what a borrower gives him as security. He goes to pagan shrines, worships disgusting idols, and lends money for profit. Will he live? No, he will not. He has done all these disgusting things, and so he will die. He will be to blame for his own death. (Ezekiel 18:10-13)

3. There is a remedy.

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' (Luke 18:13)

Ezekiel 6:9

Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations where they are carried captive, because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols; they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations. (Ezekiel 6:9)

Three points:

1. The condition of the rebellious people of God

Many were killed; many died by other means; some were scattered among many nations. The reason all this happened was because they were worshiping false gods. What god are we worshiping, ourself, money, power, some teacher or "expert"?

2. How God felt about this

His heart was "crushed". He was sad, hurt, deserted, and after all the good He had down for Israel, this is the thanks He gets. What do we do to hurt God's feelings, that is, to grieve Him? Sin, unthankfulness, forgetfulness of Him and what He has done?

3. What happens from the people's suffering

The will loathe themselves. They will be ashamed. This could have been prevented by worshiping God and obeying the Scriptures.

Joshua 1:8

Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8

Three points:

1. The Bible is important.

It is so important that it is needed every day and night. We need to read it, study it, and think about it.

2. The Bible is needed every day.

It must be read and understood in its plain, normal sense. Once read, once understood, then once obeyed. Joshua needed to do all three to receive God's blessing.

3. The Bible brings a blessing.

Prosperous doesn't mean you'll be rich; it means you'll be richly blessed. God will be with you and help you every day.

Jeremiah 11:10-11

They have gone back to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to do what I said; they have worshiped other gods. Both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant that I made with their ancestors. So now I, the LORD, warn them that I am going to bring destruction on them, and they will not escape. And when they cry out to me for help, I will not listen to them. (Jeremiah 11:10-11)

Three points:

1. We often sin, but do not repent.

Repent is not only feeling sorry about our sin--disobedience to God's word--but it is also not doing it anymore. We can't be perfect, but with prayer and God's help, we can stop. At least our attitude must be: "I want to stop sinning."

2. God warns us.

We come under conviction that we have done wrong.

3. Sometimes there is no alternative but punishment.

We can be so hard, stubborn, and refuse to repent that there is no alternative but for God to punish us in some way. In the midst of punishment we often pray that God would stop, but it is too late. Let us bare patiently our chastening.

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
(Hebrews 12:11)
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. (Psalms 119:67)

2 Corinthians 1:8

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. (2 Corinthians 1:8)

Three points:

1. We have problems, burdens, trials in our faith and life.

2. Sometimes these are above our strength; it is when we say, "I just can't take it any more.

3. Yet in verse 9 and 10 it is written: "Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us..." We can go on. Take courage brother and sister.

2 Kings 8:10-15

And Elisha said to him, "Go, say to him, 'You shall certainly recover.' However the LORD has shown me that he will really die." Then he set his countenance in a stare until he was ashamed; and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, "Why is my lord weeping?" He answered, "Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child." So Hazael said, "But what is your servant—a dog, that he should do this gross thing?" And Elisha answered, "The LORD has shown me that you will become king over Syria." Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, "What did Elisha say to you?" And he answered, "He told me you would surely recover." But it happened on the next day that he took a thick cloth and dipped it in water, and spread it over his face so that he died; and Hazael reigned in his place.
(2 Kings 8:10-15)

It was God's will for Hazael to be king.

He became king his own way by murdering his master.

He should have waited for God to bring it about like King David.

Can we wait for God to bring His will about, or do it ourselves, our own way?

Amos 4:12

"Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!" (Amos 4:12)

3 Points:

1. The last straw

God has already punished Israel for disobedience. Some of their sins: mistreat and abuse the poor, drunkenness, sacrifices and worship that is wonderfully religious but without putting their hearts into it. Some of their punishments: lack of food, lack of rain, insects eating their crops, death in war, thieves made off with their goods. But all this they WOULD NOT repent.

2. People are stubborn

This is not a time to be stubborn. It is a time to repent, to ask forgiveness and change the way they think and live. Danger is at the doorstep.

3. "Prepare to met your God"

Now that strikes fear in me, but to Israel in those days it meant nothing. They could care less, even though the punishment would be the loss of their country. Will humans today repent or keep marching to destruction?