May 11th, 2017

Luke 13:1-5 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
 
JESUS uses a mass murder and an accident to teach us, “You are all guilty.” The first account a horrible massacre the Roman governor Pilate ordered against some people in Galilee as they sacrificed to God. The second is of an accident that killed 18 people.
    We may sometimes (and I stress the word “sometime”) consider one’s fate as a sign of his spiritual standing. If he was murdered, for example, perhaps this was God’s punishment. If he perished in an accident, perhaps the accident was God-directed to end his sinful life.
    But Jesus’ point is that we are all guilty of a great offense against God. The Bible repeatedly frames our lives in the truth Paul defines in Ephesians 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
    In God’s holy view, even a “little” sin makes you guilty. No human being is any purer than another unless the Spirit of God gives us new life.
    Remember, this life is a gift. Then hear Paul’s words of wonder in Ephesians 2:4-6 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions –  it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”
    Yes, it’s true. Earthly harm and even a difficult death may come to you. Certainly many, many fervent Christian men and women have died horrible deaths for Jesus’ sake. Keep foremost in your mind the one glorious truth: As you are born again, the Judge declares you, “Not guilty!” And you will live forever with Jesus.
    Yes, life on earth is very short. Life in Heaven is forever. Repent of your deadly guilt. Rejoice in God’s life gift to you.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, my past life is now past in Jesus’ blood and the Spirit’s baptism. I rejoice I am secure in you. Amen.