Read Ezekiel 18: 21-28, 31-32
In this passage, God is telling us three things about how he views us and what we do in life. He tells us to turn from sin and live, run His race to the end, and don’t stop living for Him. He also tells us in order to live for Him, we must get a new heart. God wants you to choose life.
Are you living the life God has intended for you to live? Are you enjoying life? Are you challenged? Do you look forward to the next day? Do you have a sense of purpose? Do you simply laugh and find God in the everyday? If you answered these questions with “no”, then maybe you are living a life of a zombie. Dictionary.com gives the following two definitions of a zombie: 1. the body of a dead person given the semblance of life, but mute and will-less, by a supernatural force, usually for some evil purpose, and 2. a person whose behavior or responses are wooden, listless, or seemingly rote; automaton.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good zombie movie, but let’s think about the characteristics of a zombie portrayed in the movies. Do they ever smile, laugh and look happy? They “live” to devour and destroy. They amble with no purpose except to feed, satisfying only themselves. A zombie doesn’t care what he/she does to another human being as long as he/she gets what he/she wants. If you are not living the life God intended for you, you are living as a zombie.
How many of us, even in the church go around with sour looks on our faces? How many of us really enjoy life? How many are anxious, worried or are depressed? Living the life God intended for us, is not an easy life. However, no matter what the hardships, with God at the center of our lives, we can enjoy life. Paul writes in Philippians 4:12, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” This is living for God from day one until the day we die. It is the life race that we run until the day we reach Heaven.
How has Paul found this contentment and the endurance to run the race to the end? He got a new heart and a new spirit. Ezekiel 18:31 states, “Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit….” Only God can give you a new heart and a new spirit. Unlike the zombies in the movies who are destined to forever feed or die from having their head dismembered from their body, God can revive you and make your life whole and quite honestly, a blast to live.
Ask God today for His heart and Spirit to come into your life so you can run the life race and not the zombie race.
Photo by: nd Lt. Siobhan BennettReleased | VIRIN: 121031-F-PY520-006.JPG
