Whose Ways are Equal?...the Wayfarer

Whose Ways are Equal?

Ezekiel 18:29King James Version (KJV)

²⁹ Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?

Equality and justice are far more than mere words of the lips of those demanding them.

They are more than the concepts of what is contained within the laws of men that purport to distribute both equality and justice through limited and narrowly seen definitions of that law that is intended to enforce those concepts.

Yet justice demands that equality be examined, and confirmed, for each that sees inequality and injustice in a world that remains unjust and unequal in the eyes of all demanding those concepts for themselves and on the part of others.

Hypocrisy  abounds as men seek to be more "equal" than others, without accepting the responsibility of that equality.

Laws are established in profusion for the protection of "all", only to be abused, perverted and twisted when applied.

Traffic laws are routinely ignored, despite the knowledge of those laws as acceptance of the avoidance of those laws goes unchallenged unless that avoidance results in injury or financial damage to those obeying those laws.

The same holds true for laws holding "more importance" in the eyes of societies placing that "importance" of application only on those seen violating those laws in respect to how it affects their own corner of the world in  which we live.

The end result of this is that " law" is what is made of it by those choosing to obey or violate the equality of its intent.

The epidemic of Opioid abuse that results daily in the death of so many is but one example of the lack of equality being demanded on so many fronts, but being ignored by those choosing to violate the very laws intended to protect them.

Mankind has always demanded equality for himself while avoiding the responsibility of that equality.

Any law that is ignored is viewed through the eyes of the violator as unjust.

The pedophile holds no respect for the law that prohibits his actions and is no law to him unless that activity is seen by those who respect the equality of that law and demand its enforcement.

The thief holds no respect for the law as he enriches himself  at the cost of others about him for whom the laws established against that behavior are seen as equal.

The murderer holds no respect for the equality of the life taken, viewing that life as less important than the "reason" for having taken that life.

Different societies pass and hold to laws that promote equality as seen by those passing and enforcing them.

Mankind always reverts and degenerates to viewing equality only as a means of assurance of superiority of the individual or group of associated individuals they wish to be a part of.

Divisions arise based on the choices made to secure the superiority of one man, or group of men who hold race, creed, or other falsely separating concept above equality, denying justice intended along with the denial of that equality.

Equality DOES exist, justice WILL be meted out equally despite mankind's hypocrisy as he bandies those words about with the demand to possess them, while refusing to accept the responsibility of that possession.

Romans 3:23-26
King James Version (KJV)
²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

ALL men ARE equal.... in the fact of their sin that directs them toward the essence of inequality.

All men are equal... in the guilt shared  in the avoidance of the laws established by GOD alone for their protection and assurance of equality in sharing the intended place and purpose determined by HIM.

While men replace and revoke their own laws in order to account for "change" in societies, while men continue to ignore their own laws and concepts that evoke those laws claiming always to seek equality and justice, Equality and Justice has already been established and will continue in perpetuity.

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Matthew 5:17-19

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

¹⁸ For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

¹⁹ Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Despite man's proclivity to violate and deny the laws established by his Creator, those laws cannot be revoked or repealed, but may be appealed only through the Son of God, Christ Jesus, in whom equality is firmly established for all willing to hear and heed the simple message preached by Him, that delivered the equality sought by all, and redemption from the penalty demanded by the true justice of what has been earned by each claiming to seek that equality and justice.

"REPENT! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

The opening scripture from Ezekiel bears being viewed in totality, containing the same warning and promise made in the simple message preached from Jordan River to the cross and beyond by the Savior sent to fulfil each and all of the laws that remain equal for all, still, and stand in that equality throughout eternity.

18 The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,

² What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
³ As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
⁴ Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
⁵ But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
⁶ And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
⁷ And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
⁸ He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
⁹ Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.
¹⁰ If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,
¹¹ And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,
¹² Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,
¹³ Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
¹⁴ Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,
¹⁵ That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,
¹⁶ Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,
¹⁷ That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.
¹⁸ As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.
¹⁹ Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
²⁰ The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
²¹ But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
²² All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
²³ Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
²⁴ But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
²⁵ Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
²⁶ When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
²⁷ Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
²⁸ Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
²⁹ Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
³⁰ Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
³¹ Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
³² For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

God neither took, nor takes pleasure in the death chosen over life by those refusing His equality, but rather assured the possibility of an equal redemption for those willing to accept it.

John 3:16-21

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

²⁰ For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

²¹ But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

The time comes for each to come to the conclusion of mouthing the platitudes of equality and justice, and accept the responsibility of the equality and justice that has been and shall continue to be delivered.

The time comes for examination of equality and justice in the light of the WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE that is available for acceptance or rejection.

The time comes, and has come to cease that mouthing of platitude and concept, and apply the truth of that concept to the reality of the eternity faced by each soul.

Philippians 2

King James Version (KJV)

2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

² Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

³ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

⁴ Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹² Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Every knee shall bow! Every tongue will confess!

Each shall achieve the equality and justice sought, whether the responsibility has been met or ignored.

2 Timothy 1:12

King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer