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Enjoy Life, Enjoy God


Dale Patterson

TURN AND LIVE

July 9, 2009

"Flash Flood! Bridge out, road closed." Yet the person went around the barrier in the storm and was washed down the torrent of flood waters.

 Say to them, " As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?"
-Ezekiel 33:11 TNIV

Baloney! What a bunch of baloney it is to say the Old Testament is about law and judgment and the New Testament is about forgiveness and grace. Here in the prophet Ezekiel the grace of God is clear to see: an invitation to turn back to God, to repent of sin, and rebellious, self-willed ways. God's forgiveness and grace comes through this message, it is a channel of God's second chance. And it comes in an invitation.

In other words, the warning has been posted. Turn around and live, or, go around the barrier, ignore the invitation...well, welcome to the flood waters. I think it was C.S. Lewis who noted, God never sent a person to hell, they walk there on their own. God is not about condemnation, but grace and forgiveness--why else would the words be turn and live?
Joyfully,

Dale Patterson