Judged according to our doings

Today I read Ezekiel 24:10-27:7 and 1 Peter 2:11-3:6. My favorite verses are:

Ezekiel 24:14 I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.

1 Peter 2:24-25 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

The prophet Ezekiel spoke these words in a negative sense. The children of Israel had sinned against God until He was ready to deliver them into captivity for punishment. He said that He would not change His mind—that they would be judged according to the things they had done. But it is comforting to know that God is just as adamant in His response to righteous living. By the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our sins were paid for so that we could live righteous lives. We were straying away from God following our own ways which lead unto death when our great Shepherd sacrificed His own life to bring about our healing. He bought our forgiveness and gave us the opportunity to live for Him. So when we are judged by God according to our ways and doings, we will be found righteous in His eyes because His Son redeemed us by paying the penalty for our sins with His own life. God is faithful to reward good just as He is faithful to punish evil. Make the choice to accept His Son as your Savior so that you will be found among the righteous when the Judge appears.