Ezekiel had bad news for the people of Israel. They were already exiled from the Promised Land for sinning against God and breaking His laws, but the remnant in exile continued to sin, so Ezekiel had to tell them God would judge them.


Ezekiel’s fear is that if God judges the exiles, too, soon no one will be left at all. I had a similar experience once in a church conflict. The progressive group seemed to be changing and becoming too much like the world. But the conservative group was misrepresenting itself and its motives. I was utterly disillusioned. If those who claim to be zealous in pursuit of God’s will turn out to be dishonest, who then can be trusted? These fears cross our minds as the media exposes many believers and organizations succumbing to sin.


But God always preserves a group of faithful followers. He did in Ezekiel’s day, and He still does so today. The church is Christ’s bride, for whom He died. He may purify her through trials, but He will never abandon her and will preserve her to the end.