The Watchman
"Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from Me." Ezekiel 3:17.
In the days of Ezekiel, a watchman would stand on the wall of a city or the watchtower and watch for the enemy. If he spots the enemy he would then blow the trumpet and warn the city that war was coming. The city would then close and seal its gate. The army would mount the wall and prepare to fight the enemy. The result would be that because the watchman had done his job the city had a chance to survive. If the watchman didn't do his job, the city would be easily overtaken being unprepared for the war.
In this passage, God makes Ezekiel a watchman to Israel. Ezekiel's responsibility is to take whatever warning God gives him and deliver it to Israel. Israelhas been rebellious and has worshipped Baal instead of God. God wishes to warn them that judgment is coming and that they need to repent and come back to God. Ezekiel is given the responsibility to deliver God's warning to those in Israelthat they might have opportunity to repent, quit worshipping Baal, and return to worshipping God. Let's continue now in verse 18.
"When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." Ezekiel 3:18.
When God would give Ezekiel a word of warning to give to the wicked Israelites and he failed to do so, God was going to require their blood at Ezekiel's hand. Failure to obey God and deliver the message as God has directed would cause Ezekiel to be responsible for the death of those people. The sinners would still have to pay for their sin, but judgment of the sinners would happen at Ezekiel's hand. Ezekiel would sorrow at the loss of his fellow Jews because he had failed in his responsibility. What if Ezekiel delivers the warning?
"Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." Ezekiel 3:19.
If Ezekiel does as God has instructed him and delivers the warning to the sinner and the sinner refuses to repent, then the sinner will still die in his iniquity but Ezekiel will no longer be responsible for the blood of that sinner. Ezekiel will have delivered himself from God's judgment and from the awful task of condemning the sinner. The responsibility of the watchman that God has placed on Ezekiel has some serious consequences. If Ezekiel does as God has told him then Ezekiel will have freed himself from the sorrow and shame of failing his fellow Jews. However, if Ezekiel fails to do as God has told him and warn them of coming judgment, then Ezekiel would be held responsible for their condemnation.
This matter is so serious that God repeats this same message in Chapter 33:1-9. Here Ezekiel is told that anyone that is appointed to be a watchman to warn the people when the sword is coming upon the land will have the same results given to Ezekiel in chapter 3. If that watchman fails to warn the people when he sees a sword coming upon the land then that watchman will be held responsible for the blood of the people. If that watchman warns the people as he is required to do, then the watchman will deliver himself from judgment due for failing to warn them.
Being a watchman to warn the sinner of the error of his way is a serious responsibility. God spells out here in Ezekiel chapters 3 and 33 the results of both being obedient to the duty of watchman and failing in that same duty. Is the Christian in the church age responsible in the same manner and are the judgments similar? Let's consider what the apostle Paul had to say in Acts 18:6 which reads, "And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles."
In Athens Paul was telling both the Jews and the Gentiles of salvation in Christ Jesus. The Jews became outraged, refusing the Gospel. Paul in response tells them that he is no longer responsible to tell them of salvation in Jesus. He tells them that he is free from their blood because they have determined themselves to be unworthy of salvation. Therefore, Paul told them that he would take the Gospel to the Gentiles. The important part to pay attention to here is that Paul declares himself free from their blood. Paul felt that he was responsible for telling them of salvation in Jesus. Just as Ezekiel was responsible as a watchman over the house of Israel, so Paul saw that he was responsible for delivering the Gospel to the Jews in Athens.
Paul did as he was required and because those Jews refused the Gospel no judgment would he receive for failing to do so. Paul felt responsible for giving the Gospel to these people until they rejected it. He was certain that he would be responsible for their blood if he failed to give them the Gospel. Look also at Acts 20:25-27.
"And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." Acts 20:25-27.
Paul was returning to Jerusalemand about to leave Ephesus. He states before the people that he knows that he will see their face no more. Paul states that he has been faithful to declare the full counsel of God unto them. He was therefore free from the blood of all the people there. Once again Paul is demonstrating that he feels responsible for declaring the Gospel message to all that he comes in contact with. He believes that a failure to declare the full Gospel to them would make him liable. Paul had fulfilled his responsibility. Therefore, Paul had no concerns about judgment for failing to properly inform them.
One might say, but this is Paul the Apostle. I am not an apostle nor am I a preacher, pastor, evangelist, or missionary. This may be true. For certain those that are have a heavier responsibility than those that are not. Does that mean that those that are not called of God to preach the Gospel don't have a responsibility to share the Gospel with those they meet? What does Jesus have to say?
Speaking to His disciples Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:19-20.
Jesus made it very clear that the disciples had a responsibility to take the Gospel to the entire world. This clearly indicates that all people everywhere need the Gospel and it is the direct command of Jesus to tell them of their need. Ah, you think but I am not one of the disciples that Jesus gave that command to. Then consider the statement by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians.
"Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart." 2 Corinthians 3:3.
This clearly states that all of the people at Corinth were declared by the Apostle Paul to be a message to those around them of the Gospel. They were both responsible to take the Gospel to those they meet and to also live a life that clearly demonstrated who Jesus is. By becoming like Jesus in all aspects of life, the believer becomes a living letter to the world around them of who Jesus is and what He has done for them. The message is not fully explained to them, however, until it is declared to them one on one. If the believer fails to fulfill their responsibility to live like Jesus and deliver the Gospel to those God gives opportunity, then they will be responsible for the blood of those sinners.
How would God deal with that failure? The Word of God doesn't directly say. However, once the body of Christ is in heaven, every believer will be just like Jesus for we will see Him as he is. This means that we will have immortal bodies like Jesus and we will think like Jesus. We will hate sin but love the sinner. Jesus loved each and every sinner so much He was willing to bear their sin on the cross. When Jesus considered the death of Lazarus and the heaviness of heart of those that loved Lazarus, Jesus wept. If Jesus would weep over a lost sinner, the believer in heaven would do the same.
The Word of God indicates that God will wipe away all tears for those who enter the New Heaven and New Earth. It also states that those entering the Millennium would not sorrow. However, the type of sorrow here is sorrow and crying as the result of the damage caused by sin and sinners. In the Millennium Jews will be protected from any harm and would not therefore need to cry. Those in heaven would also be protected in the same way. No sin or sinner will ever enter heaven. However, all believers in heaven will have a heart just like the Savior's. A failure to do our job on earth carrying the Gospel to those we are given opportunity to reach will cause sorrow of heart for that failure. Everyone in heaven will see things the same way that God does. God loves the entire world, but when they reject the Savior they will have to pay for their sin.
How will the believer feel when they see someone at the Great White Throne Judgment being condemned to an eternity in the Lake of Fire whom they failed to tell about Jesus? It is certain that the believer that fails to tell them about Jesus when opportunity is provided will feel sorrow over that failure. Perhaps they will shed tears of sorrow which will be finally wiped away prior to entering the New Heaven and New Earth. However, regardless how long the sorrow, having sorrow for the sinner that is being condemned will not be pleasant. God is a God of love but also a God of justice.
Failure to do our job of taking the Gospel to those God brings us in contact with is a sin. We are making ourselves more important than the Gospel and more important than that person's soul. This is self worship and is a grievous sin. God will fulfill all justice. Yes, the believer's grieving over such failure will be forgotten when they enter the New Heaven and New Earth. However, it will not be pleasant to face up to those failures.
Take some time and consider how you might feel when you look at the condemned sinner with both the love of Jesus and His hatred for sin. What if that sinner is a relative, a son or daughter, a mother or father, or a life long friend? How would you feel? What about funds wasted on personal pleasure that could have helped a missionary get the Gospel out? If the funds you spent on that new car or piece of furniture would have gone to missions, how many more souls would be in heaven? Do what you can now to be free of the blood of everyone God gives you responsibility for. Happier will you be if you do not fail them. If they choose to believe you will have great joy in heaven as a result and great reward. To know that someone came to know Jesus because you shared the Gospel with them will bring pure joy. God also gives us this promise:
"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Daniel 12:3.