Ezekiel goes into a long explanation of how someone who commits sin will die for what they have done. In short, he is saying that the penalty of sin is death.
In fact, he goes further to say that a righteous person who turns to sin will, themselves, die. So if you think that you will be able to look back to your previous days and depend upon them for your justification…think again!
On the other hand, he does say that there is a way out. Someone who is living a sinful life but who will repent and turn back to God, away from his old life, will be allowed to live. This is the type of person that God wants. Someone who will, with humility, realizing that they have done what is wrong, turn away from their past and come to God.
Ezekiel wraps up this section by saying:
For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!
Ezekiel 18:32
Ezekiel pre-dates God coming to earth as a human being in the form of Jesus, but Jesus had a similar message. In fact, it was the first message that he preached:
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Mark 1:15
The first step to enter into the kingdom of God is that of repentance. When we realize that we have been wrong and done wrong, we must lay down our pride – something that is very difficult for must of us to do! – and instead humbly come to God in repentance. Only in this way can we come into the kingdom of God and live!