Ezekiel 43:9 Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.

This one phrase is why that glorious Kingdom temple that was so aptly described in Ezekiel will never be built. Conditional promises lay within the grasp to those to whom those conditions are placed. They were made to men, and men failed.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda, is the saddest of phrases ever rendered. They are uttered from a place of regret. They are uttered from a place of expired deadlines. They are uttered from a state of failure. Why would God give Ezekiel such a detailed description of something so grand and marvelous if it was never going to be built?

There are two types of people represented here. The first is a type to which the prophesy of that Kingdom is achievable and will eventually be built because he has faith in mankind’s ability to obey. The second is the type who sees the futility of man’s ability to obey and looks for God’s promises which are not based on conditions of man’s compliance.

Matthew 19:25-26 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

A free gift is both free and a gift. There are no conditions in the offering. All you have to do is accept the gift. Yet here again is the sadness in the giving. There is the shoulda, woulda, coulda of man’s willingness to receive something he didn’t earn. Like the first example of Ezekiel there is a time constraint involved. You have to accept the gift before you die.

Do not live in regret, accept the free gift and end regret.