20230120

the real difference

Ezekiel 43:1-5 (JDV)

Ezekiel 43:1 And he led me to the gate, the one that faces east,
Ezekiel 43:2 and I noticed the impressive appearance of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice sounded like the roar of a huge wave of water, and the land shone with his impressive appearance.
Ezekiel 43:3 The vision I saw was like the one I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and like the ones I had seen by the Chebar Canal. I fell face-down.
Ezekiel 43:4 The impressive appearance of Yahveh entered the house by way of the gate that faced east.
Ezekiel 43:5 Then the Breath lifted me up and brought me to the inner court, and I noticed the impressive appearance of Yahveh filled the house.

After chapters of architectural data describing the buildings and layout and dimensions of the new temple, now Ezekiel concludes with the main event — an event so significant that nothing he had said would matter if it did not happen. The real difference between a past of loss and shame and a future of restoration and glory is this: the impressive appearance of the God of Israel coming.

Come, Lord Jesus.