Reality Check

Ezekiel 12:25 “For I am the LORD: I will speak and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.”

Isn’t it surprising to hear someone else’s perspective of you-who you are and what you are like? Many times, people that don’t know us very well have a skewed perception of who we really are. Just as people are often mistaken about other people, so many people are mistaken about God and Who He really is! And even for those of us who know the Lord, it is easy to forget Who He is and live with a skewed view.

In this verse, we see a fourfold perspective on God-from God Himself. First of all, God tells us to remember Who He is. The verse starts with, “For I am the LORD. . . .” When the name LORD is in all capitals, it is the name Jehovah, meaning the eternally existent and sovereign God. Repeatedly throughout Scripture, and especially here in Ezekiel, God reminds His people that “I am the LORD.” This is not a flippant statement! We must remember that God rules over all treat Him with respect and honor.

Secondly, God challenges us to listen to what He says: “For I am the LORD: I will speak. . . .” The people of Israel had not been listening to God and had become a “rebellious house.” If our hearts are rebellious toward God and His authority, we also will not hear what He has to say. While remembering God’s power and supreme authority, we need to listen to Him with submissive hearts.

Thirdly, God says to have confidence in His promise. He says, “The word that I shall speak shall come to pass. . . .” This generation of Israelites had not yet seen God’s judgment, so they were assuming it would not come. But God’s promises will always come to pass. His timing is not always what we expect, but we can be sure that His word will come to pass.

Think of the story of Noah. The people in his day would not believe God’s promise of a flood because they had not seen anything like it before. But did the Flood come? Yes sir-It came in God’s time and God’s way! Ironically, now scoffers are saying that the Flood never came! There will always be those who scoff at the promises of God. However, in God’s time and way He will fulfill His promise, including His promise to come again. You can have confidence in that!

Lastly, God reminds us to have patience in His timing. He says, “In your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it. . . .” It is easy to trust God when we think we know what He is going to do, when He will do it, and how it will be done. But we must also trust Him when we have no idea how or when He will accomplish His promise. Remember Who God is and trust His timing. Live life today in the reality of Who He is!