RESTITUTION FOR THEFT/STOLEN ITEMS, TREACHERY AND EMBEZZLEMENT (PART 2)

TEXT: EZEKIEL 33:14-16

DATE: FRIDAY 7th JANUARY

Key Verse: Ezekiel 33:15-If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.


The Bible says that if God says to a man that he is going to die because of a sin he has committed or because of that which was stolen by him and that if he lives onward in righteousness, he shall live and not die. God is detailed about the steps man must take to reverse death sentence.
As Zacchaeus did, theft of money or material things needs confession, repentance and restitution to individuals, institutions or the Government. Treachery, cheating, “419”, embezzlement, requires confession, repentance and restitution.
The person cheated may choose to receive his money or material possession back, or may decide to forgive and not require payment. It is indeed acceptable. In that case the person making restitution is relieved.
Ezekiel 33:14-16
14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
God is not in haste to judge anybody; He is not political. He meant to take people who are pure to Heaven. He meant to take, even if it is only one person who qualifies among men, to Heaven and abandons the rest.
Therefore, you who wants to go to Heaven, God would want to help and support you to make it. But He wants to be thorough with you so that when you get there, you will not become another Lucifer, who will cause grievous heart-break for HIM. So He wants a thorough work in you.
Co-operate with HIM for the thorough work of righteousness in your life. He is going to give you grace to do a perfect work of personal righteousness; He will make a way for you to achieve the task. You do not just steal and tell God you are sorry; sorry is not enough.
If you are truly sorry, then return what you have stolen and God will know you are truly sorry, because forgiveness of sins is a practical thing. Forgiveness of sin is cancelation of sin. It is cleansing of bad records of sin. Then if that record has to be cleaned, it has to be restituted in sanctity.

Thought for the day: complete all your restitutions for your perfection and Heaven