Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die, The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
You Are a Fresh Start
I love looking at families. I enjoy noticing all the similarities between parents and their children. Sometimes we are chagrined by such similarities, but they are often a delight. Recently, I was with a friend whose family has been very dear to us. I can see this man’s grandfather in him. In fact, I can see his grandfather in his youngest son. Now, maybe I am just imagining that, but oftentimes you can see traits, characteristics, and facial features passed down from generation to generation.
Having said all that, you are a fresh start. You are neither entitled to what your parents had, nor are you entrapped by what your parents did. Some people feel like they are sunk from the beginning because of what their parents have done. There is no doubt that we are affected and influenced by our parents, but you are a fresh start.
In Ezekiel 18, the people of God were complaining that God wasn’t fair. In fact, they were so set in this sentiment that they had a proverb for it, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” God responded, “What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel…?” God was saying, “Why do you think that I am judging you for the sins of your fathers?” God tells these people that He deals with each person individually and judges everyone according to their own sin.
Sometimes we suffer and feel the ill effects of our parent’s sins, but God never punishes us for the sins of our parents. God says, “The soul that sinneth it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” God deals with us according to our own ways, not those of our fathers and mothers.
Today is a new day. You are a new person. Serve God and live for God now. God told Israel, “Make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel…wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.”
God gives us the gift of life every day. It is a gift that we should take from Him with thanksgiving, realizing that we are a fresh start. We can thank God for the blessings of family. We can learn the lessons of past family mistakes, but at the end of the day, God deals with us according to our own decisions.