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Ezekiel 2:1-5
If you would like, open your folders or your Bibles to our first lesson for today, Ezekiel 2:1-5 and, as we look at these verses we will see what God has to say to us.
What’s your calling? What’s your vocation? Who are you? Are you a child, a student, an athlete? Are you a spouse, a parent, an employee, a small business owner? What are your talents? Can you sing, play an instrument, dance? Are you good with computers, good at math? Are you a reader? Can you make things?
There are a lot of questions you need to answer as you try to figure out your calling. But Luther, on the basis of Scripture, wanted to remind people that their highest calling, the calling that is to affect everything about you, is your calling from God. He has called you out of the darkness of sin and unbelief into his marvelous light. He has called you to be his, a Christian, a little Christ. So, whoever you are, spouse, parent, child; whatever you do; whatever your talents; you are first and foremost a Christian. And that fact is to affect everything you think, do and say.
What is one of the most important things you are called to do as a Christian? What’s your mission? You know it by heart. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. That’s not just the mission of the “church”, which usually translates to – that’s what we pay pastors and teachers to do and elect committees to do.” No. We are all the church. If you are a Christian, then it is your calling from Jesus himself to share his word with others.
Ezekiel was from a priestly family so you might think that he would have known what his calling was. But, since the temple had been destroyed no sacrifices could be offered to God. God had something else for Ezekiel to do. God appeared to Ezekiel to explain what it was in a fantastic vision with angels and a throne. He saw the form of a man glowing like fire with brilliant light surrounding him. He saw the “Glory of the Lord” and he heard his voice.
The glory and power of the vision had caused Ezekiel to fall face down on the ground, like the Apostle John who saw a similar vision and fell down as though dead.
At times, people like Job and Moses have asked to see God so they could converse with him face-to-face. Usually it’s because they want to question, or argue with God about something. Maybe you have thought that way. But be careful what you ask for. When God appeared to Job he couldn’t answer God’s questions and repented in dust and ashes. Ezekiel and John fainted. God says that, as long as we are in our mortal state, we can’t see him face-to-face and live. His presence is so glorious; his being so holy; his power so absolute, that any glimpse of him puts us in mind of our sin and we are terrified by the fact that we deserve to be consumed by his wrath. Whenever you are tempted to question God, or demand that he appear and explain himself, remember with whom you are dealing. Remember that if he were to appear you would realize more than ever that he is the holy, almighty God, and that you are a lowly, powerless sinner deserving only his just punishment.
What grace that God chose to let Job and Moses, Ezekiel and John, see a glimpse of his glory and live. He came to them, not to destroy them, but to give them a life saving message to hear for themselves, and to share with others.
What grace that he spoke to Ezekiel and said, Son of man, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you. What grace, that even though Ezekiel could not stand up by his own power, he was so weakened by the glimpse of God’s glory, the Spirit of God worked through the word and enabled him to do what God commanded, to stand.
The same thing is true for us today. We are unable to do anything that God commands. In fact, because of our sinful nature we don’t want to do anything that God commands. But in grace, the Holy Spirit works through the word, and the word connected to water and bread and wine. Through the powerful word of God the Spirit enters us, smashes our sin-hardened heats and gives us a new heart. He makes us willing. He lifts us up and enables us to do what would otherwise be impossible; to believe that he is our creator and redeemer, and to be willing to serve him gladly.
What was it that God wanted Ezekiel to do? What was his calling? He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to disloyal nations, who have been disloyal to me. They and their fathers have rebelled against me to this very day. These children of mine are brazen-faced and hard-hearted. I am sending you to them, and you are to tell them that this is what the LORD God says. Then, whether they listen or do not listen—for they are a rebellious house—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.
His calling from God was to be God’s prophet. He was to listen to what God would tell him and then to share what God told him with the Israelites who were captives with him in Babylon. He was called to tell them, this is what the Lord God says. “These are not my words, but the very words of God.”
Now you might be thinking, “what does that have to do with me? God has not appeared to me and called me to be his prophet.” Oh, but he has. The only difference is that God has not chosen to speak to you directly. That’s a good thing, because whenever God speaks to someone directly is scares them almost to death. But God has spoken and is speaking to you. He does it through his word. And through his word he has called you to be his witnesses. He has called you to tell your children, your spouse, your friends and neighbors, everyone until there is not one person in the world who has not hear it, This is what the Lord God says. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind, and all your strength; and love your neighbor as yourself. And when you realize that you have failed miserably to do any of those things, know that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son to suffer and die in your place. He rose from the dead, and anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. That’s your calling as a Christian.
God knew what Ezekiel was thinking, and he had good reason to think it. It seems he was thinking, “Why Lord? What’s the use? They aren’t going to listen. They have rejected every prophet you sent them in the past. That’s the reason we are sitting here in exile in Babylon. That’s why the temple has been destroyed. It’s the judgment you have brought on us because we have failed to listen to your word.” I’m sure you have felt the same way. “I’ve tried to share your word Lord, and people just laugh. They think it’s old fashioned, that no thinking person would believe such things in our world today. Why should I bother? What’s the use?”
What’s God’s answer to such an attitude? “Remember your calling. Your calling is not to make them listen. You don’t have the power to do that. Only the Holy Spirit can do that as you have experienced yourself for you were just as hard-hearted and rebellious as anyone else when someone first spoke the word to you. This is your calling, tell them that this is what the Lord God says. Then, whether they listen or do not listen- for they are a rebellious house (born dead in trespasses and sins like all people) then they will know that a prophet has been among them.
If you take the time this week to read the rest of the chapter you will hear how serious God is about the calling he gave to Ezekiel, and that he has given to us. He warns Ezekiel that if he refuses to do what God is calling him to do, then he is just as rebellious as they are. He would be one who is failing to listen to what the Lord God says. God reminds Ezekiel that he is like a watchman. His calling is to sound a warning. He has no control over whether or not people heed the warning. But, if he fails to give the warning he is at fault for what happens to them. That’s a truth that applies to us as well.
It’s hard, isn’t it? When someone says something that is completely false and contrary to God’s word, like “there are many different ways to God,” or “If people are born that way how can what they do be sinful?” It’s difficult to do what God has called us to do and say This is what the Lord God says. But it does help when you remember your calling. Your calling is not to try to argue. Your calling is not to tell anyone they are stupid for not agreeing with what God says. Remember, they can’t agree with what God says unless the Holy Spirit enters them, and that doesn’t happen unless you tell them what the Lord God says. Your calling is to make sure they know what the Lord God says, whether they listen or fail to listen. This is what the Lord God says. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace in Christ Jesus. You are a sinner and so am I. But Jesus lived and died to pay for our sins. Believe it! And then, rejoice with the angels in heaven when the Holy Spirit brings just one more person to repentance and faith.
