First Light

Ezekiel 18:2 “What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?”

There is no doubt that it is human nature to be the first to take the credit and the last to take the blame! Any of us want the praise for a job well done, but none of us want the responsibility before it happens. Rare is the person that will take responsibility; many will lay the blame for some failure or some sin at the feet of other people, including those closest to them. Blaming your parents for your own sins has almost become a common strategy of defendants in the American judicial system. While it is common today, it is not unique to our day. The blame game has been around about as long as people have! Read more »

Ezekiel 16:63 “That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.”

A story is told of a king who found a young lady on the side of a highway. She was outcast, uncared for, unpitied, and unclean. The king had compassion on her and took care of her. In fact, she became his bride and queen. Now she had royal apparel instead of the rags she used to wear. She wore costly jewels that reflected the grandeur of her new position. Sadly, as the story goes, she rejected the very person who did not reject her. She was foolish and unfaithful and ended up in a worse position than when she was found by the king. Read more »

Ezekiel 14:4 “…Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;”

Are you aware that it is common practice for big spenders and big businesses to contribute to both sides of a major issue? For instance, during a Presidential election, a person or company will give a donation to both the Democratic candidate and the Republican candidate. Talk about covering your bases! While this practice may be frustrating and seem inconsistent to most of us, savvy businessmen make sure that no matter the outcome of the election, they are covered. In other words, they are playing it safe by playing it broadly. Read more »

Ezekiel 13:3 “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!”

It is ironic that in a day when preaching seems to be greatly minimized, the world cannot get enough of authoritative speakers. There is an entire “herd” of leadership conferences, podcasts, and popular events in different venues across the country. When you hear what someone with authority has to say, how do you know what he says is good? Is it good merely because it sounds good? Is it good because, in some way, what is said actually works? What makes what you hear profitable? Read more »

Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.”

We live in a confusing time of too many voices and too much information. The bad part is that much of the information is not really true! Just because a man has an audience and an avenue to spread his message doesn’t make his message true. Isn’t it hard many times to decipher up from down, right from left, and wrong from right? To whom should you listen? Read more »

Ezekiel 11:16b “Yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.”

Ah, human nature-how amusing it is! We often find our worth or security in a place or position. Some people find their worth and security when they have a low position in a prestigious place. For instance, a guy may flunk out of his first semester at Harvard, but you can bet your boots Harvard will make it on his résumé! Why is this? He might have had a low position, but he had a low position in a very prestigious place. Read more »

Ezekiel 8:16 “And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple . . . were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.”

Have you ever found yourself driving someone else’s car? I don’t mean you were actually behind the wheel in the driver’s seat; I mean the other driver was making you nervous or impatient by the way he was driving. The other night on the way to church, I noticed a fellow driver who made me nervous and frustrated at the same time! He was completely distracted, reaching for things on the floorboard and overhead. He was looking everywhere and at everything except the road! Read more »

Ezekiel 7:19 “They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.”

Isn’t it amazing how universal idols are? Men have worshipped idols in every era of history and in every corner of the world. Why do people worship idols? To provide what men cannot. Ironically, who makes these idols? Men do! The very men who cannot provide for themselves make the idols they depend upon to provide. This doesn’t work! Read more »

Ezekiel 4:3b “This shall be a sign to the house of Israel.”

Recently, my family and I spent the night in San Antonio, Texas, while on our way home from a month of travel. The next morning, we took an hour or two to tour the Alamo. Through pictures, videos, models, and text, the museum at the Alamo tried their very best to tell the story of the Alamo so that people living over a hundred years after the battle could understand what actually happened. Read more »

Ezekiel 3:9 “As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.”

We are living in a day where broad-mindedness is considered to be a great virtue. Ironically, being broad-minded today means being close-minded to the truth. Often “broad-minded” is defined by those who are very close-minded to God and the truth! Is it possible to be open-minded and hard-headed at the same time? Yes! Actually, it is imperative that you are! Read more »