Who I Am...

Ezekiel 6 details judgment on Israel, and more importantly, verse 6 names the reason for that judgment -- that "you idols may be broken and made to cease." No less than 4 times in this passage, the prophet says "and you shall know that I am the Lord" (see verses 7, 10, 13, and 14). Let's dig a little deeper.

Shortly following the Israelite exodus from Egypt, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. The first two commandments say that there is to be no other gods before Him. In other words, we are to love Him more than anything else in this world (see Luke 10:27 where the religious rulers of Jesus' day correctly identified this truth). Israel, instead of following the commands of God, chose to love other things more than the One that delivered them time after time. They had short memories of God's blessings and selfishly chose to do was they desired, when they desired, and how they desired.

The reason for the judgment of God can be found in Exodus 24:7 because the people said "all that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient." They promised to follow God and nothing else. When they went back on that promise, the Lord had to act to protect His name. God told Israel in Exodus 20:5 that He was a "jealous God." The Hebrew word for jealous here does not bear the same meaning as our modern version. It poignantly refers to "not bearing any rival" and that He would "avenge any departure from Him." With that fact known, Ezekiel 6:9 makes perfect sense for us in that God had to crush their "adulterous heart which had departed from Me."

Passages like these are difficult to handle by those that claim atheistic beliefs. If you do not acknowledge God as the One, True God, then you are exalting yourself, pridefully, as god in His place. By saying they do not believe in a god, they are defeating their own atheistic philosophy. We either love God our self more, because it is impossible to love both (Matthew 6:24). Think about your eyes - you cannot focus on two objects simultaneously. If you focus on the object in the foreground, then the background will become slightly blurry; and vice-versa. Our hearts are tuned to have a singular focus as well -- beat or not. In deciding what to do with God, we either love Him or self supremely.

So, you must stand before God right now and answer His inquiry: "Tell me who I am." Is He God or nothing. Your answer makes all the difference for the remainder of your life. If a professing Christian, your answer to that question is revealed by daily actions. Examine your life and honestly tell God who you believe He is.