Iniquity Shall End

In a famous scene in the movie Apocolypse Now before slowly walking out of shot Colonel Kilgore remarked, "Someday this war's gonna end."  For people engaged in that horrific conflict it seemed like it would never end:  the shells kept falling, bullets were flying and the napalm burning.  There is a time of war and a time of peace.  A war or battle may be fierce and long, but all will be brought to an end.  It is a grave tragedy that when one war ends other conflicts can arise.  Even in the midst of the battle and peril we can know someday the war will end, and even if this occurs because we have met our end we have a sure hope in heaven of peace in the presence of the glorious God.

Today I read this encouraging passage in Ezekiel 21:25-27:  "Now to you, O profane, wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, whose iniquity shall end, ²⁶ thus says the Lord GOD: "Remove the turban, and take off the crown; nothing shall remain the same. Exalt the humble, and humble the exalted. ²⁷ Overthrown, overthrown, I will make it overthrown! It shall be no longer, until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him."  Through the prophet God revealed to king Zedekiah the day of judgment had come and his iniquity had an end.  Many people grieved over the sorry spiritual state of Jerusalem which was brought to ruin by idolatry and rebellion against God.  To those who endured the wicked regimes of many kings of Israel there was comfort in knowing God would bring the iniquity of their rulers to an end.  God would strip them of their rule and remove their symbols of authority.  God emphatically said they would be overthrown, and in doing so God would turn everything right side up.

The proud king of Israel would be humbled, and this passage gives us a glimpse of the coming Messiah God would send:  the Son of David who is also the Son of God, Jesus Christ who will rule in righteousness over all.  All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus the righteous, and He resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.  Like king Zedekiah, we deserved to suffer the full force of God's judgment for our sin.  God showed us amazing grace in sending Jesus to atone for our sin on Calvary and clothe us in righteousness.  Jesus has come and we look forward to the day when He will bring an end to wars, murders, lying, greed, hatred and covetousness.  Sin, iniquity and death all will have an end, and Jesus will see to it.  As it is written in Revelation 20:14-15:  "Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵ And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."

Child of the living God by faith in Jesus, we need not despair and grieve over troubles and conflicts as those without hope.  In the midst of suffering God has abundant consolation for us and all who fear Him.  There is small comfort in knowing a war will someday end when it continues to rage on and untold lives are being lost.  But there is great comfort in knowing God and what He has said, that every tyrant's day will come and every worldly regime will fall before the glorious, conquering KING OF KINGS Jesus who is mighty to deliver, save, heal and comfort.  Nothing will remain the same for Jesus makes all things new.  He has already forgiven our iniquity and brought the condemnation of our sin to an end and given us a living hope.  We are able to experience perfect peace in our Saviour Who loves us though He tarries long, knowing He will make good on His promises.