Ezekiel 24 The Lord gives Ezekiel a parable to tell the people... a boiling pot with meat added and boiled until it is ruined.. until the pot itself glows in the heat.. that its "filthiness may be melted in it."  Verse 13 is powerful.. " In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I would have cleansed you, yet you are not clean, you will not be cleansed from your filthiness again, until I have spent My wrath on you." 

If only they would have asked Him.. if only they had repented of their sins.. if only.. He would have cleansed them, restored them, and blessed them.  This is what the good news still tells us!  If we ask.. if we repent.. if we will turn to Him who has the power to save.. He will forgive us.. cleanse us.. restore us and bless us. 

Ezekiel then receives a very difficult word from the Lord.. "Son of man, I am about to take from you the desire of your eyes with a blow; but you shall not mourn, and you shall not weep, and your tears shall not come."  He was instructed instead to put on his turban and shoes.. and to not act out the grief that would fill his heart.. "so I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died.. " 

Then, Ezekiel did what the Lord commanded.. and he was a sign to the people that something horrific was about to happen so that they would "know that I am the Lord God".  On that day.. the temple would be profaned.. all the pride and desire of Israel would be removed.. their sons and daughters would be taken away.. and only a few would escape the destruction... "And they will know that I am the Lord." 

Often, it is in the times of tragedy..that we realize how much we need the Lord.. we need His strength, His peace, His wisdom, and His grace.  Sometimes it takes terrible circumstances to make us see that we need to know the Lord who is the only True God.   Praise God.. We have had experiences that have led us to turn from our sinful ways and turn to the One who is able to cleanse us and make us whole.  God will do what it takes to burn away the rust and the filthiness of our lives. May we know His grace and find that cleansing fountain.. in Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Father in heaven, thank You for showing us our sins.. and bringing us to repentance and restoration through Jesus Christ Your Son.  We are groaning for the loss of others.. ones that we have loved.. but who have not responded to the message of Your salvation. Oh that those still living would turn to You before it is too late!  Father, send forth Your Spirit to convict them of sin and death.. and righteousness. Seek them and draw them to Yourself we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.