influence on one’s present and future, those past circumstances do not dictate one’s actions. Each one of us has a choice to either do right or wrong. This point is illustrated with an analogy God described to Ezekiel of three generations – a righteous man, his wicked son, and his righteous grandson. Notice what the text says of the righteous grandson (the wicked man’s son).
“Now behold, he has a son who has observed all his father’s sins which he committed, and observing does not do likewise” (Ezekiel 18:14).This man grew up with a father who was violent, practiced idolatry, committed adultery, oppressed the poor, stole from others, and more (Ezekiel 18:10-13). He would have had a very strong, negative influence on his son. His son could have easily grown up and followed in his father’s footsteps. Many children do this. But this man did not. He observed his father’s sins and made the determination that he would “not do likewise.” We must make our own decisions. We cannot afford to engage in certain behaviors simply because others (even if they are our parents) engage in these behaviors. In the end, we are each individually accountable before God.
“The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20).God will not punish us for what others have done. He has given us the freedom of choice to either obey Him or disobey Him. We must choose to obey Him, no matter what others are doing or have done, so that we can avoid the fate of the wicked man. –Andy Sochor
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