One of the main reasons why so few who call themselves Christians repent goes back to the question “what have I done?” Most people think they go to church and have committed to what is being taught, so why is there a need to repent. Every so often you drive by a church with a cemetery around it. That’s the picture you need to keep in mind as to why repentance is so important. Jesus said Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” They obviously did not see themselves that way and most in the church today do not see themselves that way. The church is not a building but contains those who are supposed to be the church and yes, many churches are beautiful, but like a tomb it symbolizes the emptiness inside.    

    Ezekiel was sent to the people to speak the word of the Lord whether they listened or not. Ezekiel 3:10 “And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.” We see another example of whitewashing and it is also not a good picture. Ezekiel 13:1 “The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: ‘Hear the word of the Lord! 3 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins. 5 You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord. 6 Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words. 7 Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken? 8 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord. 9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord. 10 “‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, 11 therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. 12 When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?” 13 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury. 14 I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord. 15 So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, 16 those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.”’

    Those prophets are still proclaiming their own words and there are many with itching ears who want to hear what these prophets who build flimsy walls and cover them with whitewash are saying/ As Jeremiah said, this is the same in the church today. Jeremiah 5:30 “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” We saw what happened in the end when Babylon decimated the land. God showed the horrible things that were taking place and why this destruction took place. Ezekiel 8:3 “The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood. 4 And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain. 5 Then he said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy. 6 And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestable things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable. 17 He said to me, “Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial matter for the people of Judah to do the detestable things they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence and continually arouse my anger? Look at them putting the branch to their nose! 18 Therefore I will deal with them in anger; I will not look on them with pity or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listen to them.” God showed Ezekiel all the detestable things that were going on in the temple. (Other versions use abominations.)

    Today there are still idols being set up and detestable things / abominations taking place. I have talked about the idols / statues still being set up in honor of the men whom they lift high. It’s idolatry no matter how you slice it. If there are no statues, gurus both men and women have been idolized but that is not the worst part. The church today follows a different jesus and other gospels which is an abomination and the church is desolate because of it. Yet people continue to say we have done nothing wrong and refuse to repent. Yes, this is hard to see because most go to a nice church, gather with others, sing some songs, hear some preaching and all seems good, but it is not as it seems because the church has rebelled against the living God. Most have been told they worship and teach differently but we all worship the same God. That is not true as there is only one way. Every group who calls themselves the church has a differing belief system. Ezekiel would see the same things today. Jesus went on to say Matthew 23:37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

    Today the church is left desolate and because of rebellion and truth has been thrown down. There is hope for those who turn from their wicked ways. As Jesus said Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”