“Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?” “Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.”

Ezekiel 18:23, 30b-32 

When we look at the character and nature of God, we should prioritize His own revelation of Himself as the most important, relevant information that we have concerning Him. In other words, what God says about Himself is what we should believe about Him. In today’s passage, God is speaking on His own behalf and He is declaring someone to all of us, not just to the nation of Israel. Consider the following:

“Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he (anyone) should turn from his ways and live?” 

What God reveals is that we have a sin problem and that we must turn from wickedness to Him for salvation. This is the essence of repentance (changing our minds). But it is what He says on the forefront of this statement that reveals His heart. He poses a rhetorical question, designed to be easily answered by anyone familiar with Him. 

“Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked?”

What God is revealing is that He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. Contrast that with a God who loves to sit in heaven and watch the suffering of those who practice wickedness. We see the same revelation just six chapters into the Bible. Consider the following:

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

                                                                                                                   Genesis 6:5-6 

An often overlooked part of God’s character is that, while judgment will come upon those who refuse to repent and receive salvation, He does not take pleasure in their refusal. As the wickedness of the earth had grown so great that a worldwide flood was eminent, God was sorry that He had made mankind (literally repented of making them) and He was grieved in His heart (over their wickedness). This is far cry from the idea that God loves everything that is happening good or bad. Although certain, He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

He goes on to make a similar and equally powerful declaration:

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.” 

Now we have moved from His not taking pleasure over the death of the wicked to the reality that He takes no pleasure from the death of anyone. This would mean that His desire is for all to come to salvation. But do we have that truth in scripture? Of course! Consider Paul’s words:

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men (mankind, literally humans) to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. 

                                                                                                            1 Timothy 2:4-6 

We also see this in the description of God’s response to mankind’s sin:

So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men (mankind), even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men (mankind).

                                                                                                                   Romans 5:18 

The one sin of Adam brought condemnation on all of us but Jesus’ one act of righteousness (on the cross) brings justification to all of us. He goes on to demonstrate that God’s grace, responsible for sending Jesus, is even greater than the condemnation that comes through the Law:

The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded (super abounded) all the more…

                                                                                                       Romans 5:20 

So if the justification that comes from Jesus’ one act of obedience on the cross is available to all, why are there still those who will not receive salvation? The answer is found in the Ezekiel passage and in the words of Christ. Consider the following:

“Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!”

                                                                                                         Ezekiel 18:30b-31a 

God was calling on the people to do something, namely, repent, turn away from sin, cast away sin from their lives, and make for themselves a new heart and a new spirit. Wow! That is a lot but that is what God was declaring to the people in order for them to be saved. He did not want to see them perish because of their refusal, therefore He declares, “I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies.” Jesus speaks to the same thing but in the context of the new covenant:

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

                                                                                                                   John 3:17-18 

Jesus fulfilled the demands of the Law for us (Matthew 5:17) and became, for us, a propitiation for all of our sin (1 John 4:9-11). Our salvation is now dependent on placing our faith in Him, the only One who is truly righteous. When we believe (trust) in the finished work of the cross, we are no longer judged rather we move from spiritual death to spiritual life (Romans 8:1-2). Notice that this is in accordance with the love of God (John 3:16) and designed not to judge the world but that the world might be saved through Christ. John echoes this reality as he gives us God’s command for believers in Jesus: 

This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

                                                                                                                     1 John 3:23 

Trusting Him and loving others, this is at the heart of the gospel and it is the desire of God.

God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies! This is His own testimony of Himself. Why would we choose to perish when we can experience abundant life in Him? Why not give your life to Jesus today and begin to walk in the love, freedom, and peace that God desires for you to experience!