Death of the Wicked

​Ezekiel 18:23 ~ “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the LORD God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?”
 
The heart of God is the richness of love, not wanting that any should perish but all come to salvation in Christ. There are those who hold God up as a Divine Tyrant, seeking to destroy a man at the first instance of his departure from God’s ways. Others view the LORD Almighty as a thunderous Despot, unrelenting in His desire to obliterate sinners. Those who hold such a view of the LORD have not one clue as to the patient and steadfast love He possesses for His creatures. He made mankind in His own image (see Genesis 1:26-27). And despite the perpetual wickedness of the image bearers, the LORD continues to pursue mankind that they should be saved. However, God is Judge and will punish sin and rebellion. Yet, in His anger He remembers mercy. Consider Habakkuk 3:2, “O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.”
 
As we consider our text for today, we must first understand that there is a “death of the wicked” waiting for all sinners. Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Many view death incorrectly. They consider it a termination and not a transition of life. To experience death is to experience separation from those who are left behind. Death in this world is to be separated from those we love and live amongst. Even though our bodies die, yet our souls will live on for all eternity. Death spiritually is to be separated for all eternity from the LORD who has loved you and be cast out of His presence forever. So the question is, then: to where will you transition. Jesus declared in Matthew 25:46, “And these [wicked] will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” We look at the opening of our text and do you hear the great compassion of God Almighty? He asks a rhetorical question, “have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” The answer is an obvious “no.” And though God will gain glory for Himself through their judgment, for our God is the Righteous Judge, yet there is greater glory for the LORD from our receiving His mercy. James 2:13 declares, “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
 
The LORD God takes no pleasure in the death of those who are wicked. Let us hold out to them, then, the great hope of salvation through Jesus Christ our LORD. For if we want to give God glory and bring joy to His heart, then let us pursue the wicked with the gospel that He gave for their salvation and ours. Romans 1:16 declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Do not think that God is wanting to withhold His gospel from anyone. They may reject it, despise it and prefer the messenger be silent concerning it, but the LORD who loves them will call all men everywhere to repent and believe on the LORD Jesus.
 
That brings us to the response that God expects for all who will come to Him by faith. From our text we read, “and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” The sinner must repent. We read in Ezekiel 18:27, “Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life.” As with every other aspect of our lives, our repentance is not perfect, it is often incomplete and yet the question will be: is it real? Is it merely an outward show of remorse or is there a true inward brokenness over sin and a desire for God, a longing that leads a person away from wickedness and to God’s righteousness. The Pharisees were good at the outward display, all the while still loving their inward corruptions. Jesus said to them in Matthew 23:27, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.”
 
Let us remember that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. We might rejoice when we see a criminal prosecuted, or a murderer sentenced to his just judgment. But what will occur when we stand before the Righteous Judge of the universe? Do not deceive yourself, or anyone else, into thinking that there is enough righteousness in you to satisfy God. There is not. We all must repent and believe on the LORD Jesus Christ for salvation. In Mark 1:15, Jesus says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Let us strive in this favorable hour to pursue Christ with all our hearts, despising our sin and repenting from them that we should live to bring God pleasure.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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