By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher
Text:
Ezekiel
32:17-32
Romans
12:2
And do
not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God.
(NKJV)
As A Child growing up, I
remember my parents telling me not to hang out with those people or I will become
just like them. As I have grown older, I have realized this advice is not only
good for children but also for adults. In this text, we observe that the
nations aligning with Egypt should also have heeded this advice and not aligned
with Egypt which was destined for destruction. As Christians we must not seek
conformity with the world but transformation through the renewing of our minds
through the Word of God (Romans
12:2).
This text begins with
Ezekiel receiving another word from the Lord, this time telling him to wail
over the multitude of Egypt who will go down to the Pit (Ezekiel
32:17-18). The Lord then asks Egypt who they surpass in beauty, reminding
them of their pride and that they will be placed with the uncircumcised (Ezekiel
32:19). Egypt is destined to fall with others slain by the sword along with
the multitudes following her (Ezekiel
32:20). The strong among the mighty in hell will cry out to Egypt as they
lie slain by the sword among the uncircumcised (Ezekiel
32:21).
Among those accompanying
Egypt to the Pit are Assyria, Elam, Meshech, Tubal, Edom, the Princes of the
North, and the Sidonians (Ezekiel
32:22-30). Seeing these multitudes also slain by the sword brings comfort
to Pharaoh says the Lord (Ezekiel
32:31). The text concludes with the Lord reminding Egypt that they caused
terror in the land of the living and are destined to be placed among the
uncircumcised with all the multitudes aligned with them (Ezekiel
32:32). A reminder of the fate of those aligning with the world.
Since Egypt is symbolic
of the world in Scripture, this passage is a warning to those choosing to
follow the world instead of God. In Romans
12:2, the Bible tells God’s people not to conform to the world but to
experience transformation through the renewing of our minds. Renewal of the
mind occurs when one acquires knowledge, but we must be careful what knowledge
we allow to enter our minds. Paul warned the Colossians not to fall prey to the
philosophies of the world that are not in accordance with Christ (Colossians
2:8). Renewal of the mind based on worldly knowledge will result in the
renewal of the mind but not renewal away from worldly conformity but renewal
into conformity with the world. The renewal spoken of in Romans
12:2 is renewal away from worldly conformity through the acquisition of
knowledge of God through the Bible.
Sadly, however, many in
the Church today fail to have a regular time of daily reading and study of the
Bible so they can gain knowledge bringing transformation away from worldly
conformity. Evidence of this failure to acquire Biblical knowledge and Godly
transformation is the Church going woke and conforming to the world instead of
being a transformative force in the world. Jesus told his followers that they
were salt and light in the world (Matthew
5:13-16).
During the time of Christ
when people did not have modern refrigeration to preserve food, they used salt
as a preservative. Jesus’ use of salt as an illustration is a call for the
Church to function as a preservative force in the world. Conformity with the
wokeness of the world is not acting as a preservative but instead acting to
spread the toxic philosophies destroying the world. The use of light symbolized
the need for the Church to shed light on the sins of the world and direct
people to salvation through Jesus Christ. I urge those reading this post to
spend time daily reading and studying the Bible, so they experience less
conformity to the world and transformation toward Godliness. Then I challenge
you to become salt and light in a dark world and become an agent of
transformation in a world desperately needing it.
If you are reading this
and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of
your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, I invite
you to pray with me now,
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23)
and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse
me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe
you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now
declare you Lord of my life.
May God challenge,
convict, and bless everyone reading this post.
