Two realities...
Ezekiel is shown not only what is happening to Israel physically, but also what is taking place spiritually. The Lord pulls back the curtain, allowing Ezekiel to witness a reality the people could not see.
"Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and paused over the threshold of the temple; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD's glory.... Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. And the cherubim lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight. When they went out, the wheels were beside them; and they stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD's house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them." Ezekiel 10:4, 18-19
The cloud and brightness revealed the glory of the Lord. Yet Ezekiel witnessed something heartbreaking: God's glory departing from the temple. Israel had continually rejected the Lord, and now Ezekiel was seeing the spiritual reality behind the judgment coming upon them.
Just as in Ezekiel's day, there are two realities today: the physical world we see and the spiritual realm we cannot. Paul reminds us to put on the whole armor of God and encourages us: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12
The battle is spiritual. Ezekiel witnessed that reality, while much of Israel remained blind to it.
Today, remember that what we see isn't all there is. Our circumstances, conversations, and struggles can have spiritual implications. Not every difficulty is a spiritual attack, but every circumstance is an opportunity to stand firm in the Lord.
Take time today to pray through Ephesians 6:10-20. Put on the whole armor of God, remembering that He has equipped us to stand firm in Him.
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.