Then You Will Know

Describing events that would take place after His death, Jesus told His disciples, “Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe” (John 14:29). Demonstrating His foreknowledge and sovereignty, He was proving that His Words were true and helping His disciples to be prepared.

This is a constant theme of God’s prophetic messages. And it was a particular theme of the ministry of Ezekiel. Eleven times in his book, God told him, “Then you will know.”

When His people experienced His judgments and defended His name, then they would know that He was the Lord (Ezekiel 7:4, 9; Ezekiel 20:44). And when God set His face against them, they would remember His warning (Ezekiel 15:7).

Some doubted that Ezekiel was delivering God’s messages accurately. But the Lord confirmed that He would do everything He had spoken through this prophet (Ezekiel 24:24). God even decreed that the day would come when “dry bones” would come to life. Many refused to accept these prophecies, but God said they would come true, so they would “know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 37:13-14).

This message was important for Ezekiel, and it remains equally true today. Many people around us question the validity of the Gospel and deny that the Bible is true. Others freely criticize and ridicule those who believe God. Many of these people even deny His existence and conclude that those who claim to know Him are deluded, naive, or even insane.

What is our attitude when we hear such things? What is our vindication? Like Ezekiel, we must be confident in our relationship with God. And we must be confident that He will keep His Word. Even when facing critics or skeptics, we must affirm that Jesus is the Lord. Through our lives, we must demonstrate that we truly are serving Him and living as His witnesses. Only then will the world know Jesus is real.