Ezekiel 36:35

Ezekiel 36:35 says, And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.  God said that the land of Israel was like the garden of Eden, or very fruitful once more.  It had been left desolate for a period of time because of the disobedience of the people of Israel, but it was still God’s promised land for them, so He had restored it to being a plentiful land once more.  We were once spiritually desolate as sinners, but God had already prepared a place of plenty for us to live in forever if we will only confess our sins and accept His gift of salvation.   

Verse thirty-six adds, Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it.  God said that when He, and not the people of Isreal, restored the land that the heathen around them would know that He had done it and that He is God.  As followers of Christ, we should always give God credit for the good things in our lives, beginning with His gift of salvation.  We should then live our lives so that the lost people of the world will know that God is God.  If we are no different than them, this will never happen.   

Verse thirty-seven continues, Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.  God said this was going to happen when the people of Israel once again sought Him and followed His laws.  If we are going to be restored to God spiritually, we must respond to His gift of salvation when He calls us.  We are saved by simply putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, but we are then to live our lives in accordance with God’s word so that lost people will know that we believe in the only God that there is.    

Verse thirty-five concludes, As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the Lord.  God then stated once more that when the holy flock, those people of Israel who put their faith in Him returned to the restored cities in Israel that people would know that He is God.  Not only would the people return, but they would have abundant flocks, or their needs would be met in other words.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, all our spiritual needs are abundantly met, even though we do not have a promise that we will be materially blessed.  At times, the opposite may be true, but we are still to live by faith so that lost people will see that God is God of our lives.