Ezekiel ends with the redistribution of the lands.
There is also a portion, separated as an offering to the Lord, which is for the
Levites. And the commandment to the Levites is they are not to sell off the
portion allotted to them: “And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange,
nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the LORD” (vs
14). God forbids the people from exchanging or trade away any part of the
priestly and Temple areas.
It is a reminder to us: DO NOT TRADE AWAY YOUR
HEAVENLY HOME WITH AN EARTHY ONE!
Many wanted to go to heaven when they first heard the
gospel. They wanted the eternal life that is promised in the gospel (John
3:16). They became Christians and were faithful for a while. Then they lost
sight of the heavenly home. They became more involved with building their
earthly homes. They began to spend all their time and energy to building their
earthly homes while their heavenly home fades away. What are they doing? They
are trading away their heavenly home for an earthly one. What did they gain?
NOTHING! What have they lost? EVERYTHING! Our Lord warns: “For what is a man
profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what
shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
What does it profit? NOTHING! He who loses his soul
loses everything.
Still, many do not take heed to the warning of Jesus.
They continue to make bad bargains and trade away something more precious for
something inferior. And, many do not realise it until too late. For example, a
man decides to trade family time for business success. He loses his wife and
children. Bad bargain! Another example, Christian couple trade worship time
with business time. Their children fall away from the faith. Bad bargain!
This reminds me of Esau. Esau’s life is the story of a
man who traded his soul for fleeting pleasure. He sold his birthright, which
included not only material benefits and family privileges, but spiritual
blessings as well, for a bowl of soup. The Bible says that “he ate and
drank, and rose and went on his way” (Genesis 25:34). He didn’t have a
second thought about what he had done. He did it, it felt good, and only much
later did he come to regret it (Hebrews 12:17).
JUST FOR A BOWL OF SOUP! Can you imagine it? Do you
think it’s a good bargain? Would you do it? Of course you will say you won’t.
But, are you sure? Answer these questions:
1. Did you trade in the worship hour or Thursday bible
class hour with business hour?
2. Have you allowed your children to miss bible class
because they have an examination coming up?
It is a bad bargain to exchange the eternal life for
“a bowl of soup”. Do you know what was Abraham and the faithful Old Testament
heroes of faith looking for that made them persevere in their faith? A HEAVENLY
CITY! They “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and
maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10).
And, Ezekiel closed his book with the heavenly city.
The restored city of Jerusalem is to receive a new name: “Jehovah Shammah”
meaning, "The LORD is there" or “Jehovah Is There”
(Ezekiel 48:35). The announcement of this name makes a splendid conclusion to
the Book of Ezekiel.
The patriarchs looked for a city whose builder and
maker is God. Ezekiel saw the city whose name is “Jehovah is there.”
Isn’t it great to be in the same place where God is, which He builds? Yes, God
is there, but where are you? Will you be there?
Jimmy Lau
Psa
119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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