Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? Ezekiel 18:23
Over the centuries of time, there have been many different evil people rise to power and cause a lot of damage to the people. Attempts to cause genocide of groups of people have been done by some of these people. Often many in the world hate these people and want them removed.
One way that many want to see the person removed is by death. When one of these evil rulers get killed, many will often rejoice at his death or destruction. It is seen as a relief from an evil person and that he got what he had deserved.
Ezekiel talks about the death and life of people. God points out that people will die for their sins. However, God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. He would rather see them change and live.
Believers have often been right along side of the world in desiring the death of a wicked person. There have been some who have blown up doctors and their clinics that provide for abortion, thinking that they were doing what God is desiring in getting rid of the wicked person.
Judgement is often called for upon a wicked person by many believers. Yet, this is not what God really wants. God is a God of love, not judgement and destruction. He does not want to see anyone destroyed, but to come to repentance and live.
It should break the heart of a believer to see a wicked person die in his sins. That means a person is lost for eternity.
Every believer must keep in mind that at one time he was a wicked person in sin. It is only by the grace of God that he is now being saved. This salvation should be sought for every wicked person, not death.
You may be one who has rejoiced over the death of a wicked person. Rather than rejoicing, see that person as God does, one who is loved and is lost. Allow their death to break your heart as it breaks God’s heart.
Seek to be His witness to every person, no matter how ‘good’ or wicked they are. Pray that God can turn their heart and bring on salvation, rather than death. Do not rejoice in the death of the wicked, but weep.
I pray today that you will know God’s heart of love; that you will love all people as God loves you and them; that you will be His witness; and that you weep at the loss of life in sin.
This article so disingenuous, its not ok to call for the death of a wicked person ud hope for repentance, but also its ok to be glad God vanquished evil (Psalms 8-13) u should absolutely be relieved evil has been vanquish by the Lord, calling for judgement on a person and being glad in Gods arbitrary judgement are two different things… and lets not act like God doesnt have a measure and amount of sin he will tolerate, there is a point of no return (preflood, Caananite genocide, sodom and Gomorrah, the rebellious son in deuteronomy, etc) there is only so much sin he will tolerate, everybody not gona be saved, idk why christians pretend this is not a thing, yes we hope for repentance always but its not gona happen for everyone, and evil needs to be vanquished, so no i dont hope Hitler dies, id hope he repents but if sin reaches a measure and point of no return and God enacts capital punishment im not gona be sad, im not gona grieve because evil was vanquished
Ishmael, Thank you for reading and your comment.
I can understand what you are saying about being glad an evil person is taken out. However, I do not think that is God’s true heart to do so. He does not take delight in sending people to hell, but His holiness and righteousness requires it if one does not repent. Hearts should be sad at one who dies without repenting. It is a soul that is lost for eternity in eternal punishment, just as this verse shows God’s heart, not man’s.
I trust you can understand what I am saying.
Have a blessed day in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.