I will make this proverb to cease

Bible Reading: Ezekiel 9-12

Ezekiel 12:21-23 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 22 Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? 23 Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.

The people of Ezekiel's day had come to a place where they no longer believed the Word of the Lord. They spoke of God's Word in a proverb saying that every vision had failed. The reason for this was the fact that it had been a long time since the prophet's had spoken. In other Words, they had heard the words of the prophets but since nothing had happened in a while, they said it would never happen.

God instructed Ezekiel to tell them, "The days are at hand!" God was going to do what he had said through the prophets and unfortunately for Judah that meant a great chastisement. They would be exiled to Babylon.

The same thing happens in our day. Peter told us it would come:

2 Peter 3:3-4 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Don't be a part of this. Don't 'spiritualize' the Word of God and not believe that Jesus is coming again! We learn through a study of the Word of God that he is faithful to fulfill his promises. They take place in his time, not ours. Peter also tells us:

2 Peter 3:8-9 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Time is very different to Jesus than it is to us! Don't get impatient, but realize that his delay is longsuffering and grace. He wants more to be saved! He is giving mankind time to repent and believe the gospel.

Never give up on the promises of God, but realize that all will be fulfilled in his time. You can rest in that!

In Christ,
Rody