October 24

Ezekiel 7–9 paints a sobering picture of judgment. God declares that the end has come upon Israel for their idolatry and violence. In chapter 8, Ezekiel is shown the hidden sins within the temple itself—leaders worshiping idols in secret, defiling what is holy. Then in chapter 9, God commands that those who grieve over the city’s sin be marked for mercy, while judgment falls on those who persist in rebellion. Even in wrath, God remembers the faithful few who remain devoted to Him. This scene of darkness and cleansing might feel heavy, but it reveals an essential truth: God’s holiness cannot coexist with corruption. His judgment is not arbitrary—it’s the necessary response of a holy and just God. Yet within that same holiness is compassion for those who humble themselves and turn to Him.

In John 3, we find a very different scene—but the same holy God. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, comes to Jesus by night seeking truth. Jesus tells him that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. Then comes one of the most powerful declarations in all of Scripture: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. The same God who judged sin in Ezekiel’s time now provides the way of salvation through His Son. The light of God’s holiness that once exposed sin now shines through Jesus to bring life and redemption.

Together, these passages remind us that God’s holiness and love are never in conflict. His judgment shows us the seriousness of sin, and His mercy in Christ shows us the depth of His grace. To be born again is to step from darkness into the light—to live as those marked by His mercy and transformed by His Spirit.

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