Sour Grapes...or Not?

Happy "Repentance" Saturday, Everyone!

Wow, my title this morning gets right to the point, don't you think? Ezekiel chapter 18 doesn't pull any punches when it comes to sin. The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel with a huge laundry list of transgressions that people commit. Having false idols, committing usury, oppression, robbery, etc. etc. There's a lot of blame shifting by the people of Israel in the Old Testament. But you know what; there's a lot of blame shifting in todays society, as well. What are some excuses you have heard used to shift blame, regarding co-workers, fellow church members, family members, friends? Do you remember the old fable of the fox and the sour grapes? The fox couldn't reach the grapes and finally came to the conclusion that they were probably sour anyway? Well, the sour grapes in this week's Sunday School lesson is a different type of sour grapes. The context here is a context of blame-shifting to avoid accountability for sin. Friends, we may try to comfort ourselves with either the fox's or the Israelites' sour-grape reasoning, but both are self-delusional. HUH? That's right; self delusional. Many of us are this way with our sin. We like to think, "oh, I'm not too bad." When in fact we are ignoring the very sickness that's keeping us from living a more blessed life. Do me a favor and get your Bible out. Turn to Ezekiel 18 and read. I want you to see that for every action is either a positive or negative reaction by God, depending on our choices. Interesting. Vs 30 says, "Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin." Sooooooooooooo, my word this morning is this... A person is to respond to the condition of his community. It's true that each generation influences the next, but none controls what the next generation chooses. The next generation is not predetermined for blessing or cursing by the actions of the previous one. It's like growing up in an abusive home but making the decision to not be an abuser yourself. The individuals of the next generation need to know something. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; know one gets to the Father (Heaven) but through him." Please friends; help give the next generation a chance, so they don't have to ever say, " that Jesus stuff, was probably just wrong (sour grapes), anyways." May the Lord bless you this week, Amen.