Luke
13:1-9 (NIV)
1 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."
6 Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in
his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.
7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three
years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found
any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'
8 "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year,
and I'll dig around it and fertilize it.
9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it
down.'"
Today is a day we will remember for years to
come. Today we remember the thousands of lives lost in the attacks on the World
Trade Center and the Pentagon and our nation. There have already been many
moments of silence observed across our land as I write this article.
Many are still trying to make sense of what
happened on September 11, 2001. There have been plenty of preachers of various
religions that have sought to offer their faith's take on the events of that
day, but I submit to you that there is only one real perspective that offers
anyone with true hope.
September 11, 2001 was not the first time
terrorists had caused a tower to fall on those they did not agree with religiously.
What happened on September 11, 2001 was only a copy of what took place in the
text we read this morning.
Think with me about the picture this text
presents to us. The news has reached the disciple's ears that the tower has
fallen on some Galileans, or that Pilate had ordered the execution of many Jews
who were in temple offering sacrifices. The history tells us that there were
far more Jews killed in the temple than in the bombing of the World Trade
Center.
I can hear the disciples ask Jesus, "Why
did this happen?" I want you to pay close attention to his response, it
sounds almost callous coming from his mouth. His response to their question,
"Unless you repent you too will perish!"
"Thanks a lot for the concern Jesus. I
mean really this does not sound like the compassionate God you claim to be. How
can you be so brash as to reply in this way?"
Because we do not understand the cause of
evil and suffering we see the answer of Christ to be harsh, but, in reality, it
was very compassionate. He was telling all who were listening that this world
is under a curse and is filled with all those who have rebelled against God. Do
not expect this world to treat you well, it is fallen and cursed because of
man's sin.
Whenever we see the results of sin we find
disease and wars and pollution both moral and natural. Death and disease are a
part of the curse that man brought about because of his sin and rebellion
against God. This world is on a collision course with judgment and all those
who refuse God's offer of forgiveness in Christ are heading that way at
breakneck speed.
If you see someone headed for a cliff what do
you do? Do you speak softly to them and tell them how nice they are and how
precious they are in the sight of God, do you help them feel better about their
trip towards the cliff, or do you raise your voice so as to be heard and speak
with direct and clear language to warn them of going one more step in that
direction?
I suggest that the most compassionate thing
to do is to do exactly what Jesus did, speak up clearly in now unmistakable
terms and say as clearly and a forcefully as you can unless you turn from your
sin and repent and trust in Christ you too will have the same fate. It is
appointed unto man once to die and after that to face the judgment.
We see in this passage the seriousness of
this matter. Our Lord Jesus is saying to his disciples and to us that there is
no time to waste, your very next step may send you into eternity so unless you
repent you will perish. May we be like our Lord who put aside convention of his
day and spoke the truth when his disciples needed it most. Let us speak the
truth for the sake of those who have yet to trust in Christ.
May the events of this day be used by God to
stir his church to spread the message of the gospel where ever we go.
Stirred by His Compassion,
Pastor Phil