Ezekiel 21:8-13. The Lord is telling Ezekiel to prophesy against the sanctuaries the and people of Israel. He is to tell them that a sword has been sharpened and polished - sharpened for slaughter and polished to flash like lightning. He is to to ask them if they still want to make mirth? They have despised the rod and all lesser punishments so now the sword will be used "against my people; against all the princes of Israel; they are delivered over to the sword with my people." This will not be a testing, what else could He do when the people have despised the rod?

We have ignored and despised the rod as well. No one, it seems, is willing to accept suffering for the sake of repentance. Instead we all try to avoid it at all costs, and tolerate, an even celebrate, the sins of others so as not to make them uncomfortable or suffer in their sin. This seems to have become a worldwide problem (except possibly in third world countries). Of course, as we try to avoid the rod and to save others from it, we make everything worse and all of our sufferings actually increase. That is always the way - a lesson we learn from the Bible.

I don't know if we are at the point where this is no longer a testing, and God is telling us the sword is about to be released upon us. But if not, we soon will be. As the suffering continues, eventually we will either wake up and repent or God will finally ask "what else can I do?" and send the sword against us. Right now, everyone I know is suffering in some way. Suffering is always a test, there's always a purpose to it. Let's try to use our suffering as a lesser punishment than we deserve for our very many sins and repent. Let's help others to do so too. Otherwise, our situation will only get worse and it is already pretty bad, you have to admit! We can at least try to avert the sword by accepting the wooden rod if it is not too late.