Our relationship with God is not something that we should put off. It is urgent that we repent and that is exactly what the passage of Scripture before us is about. It is urgent for 2 primary reasons that we see in Luke 13:1-9.
Hear the Word of God.
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." 6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' 8 And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
Luke 13:1-9
There are two main reasons that we should urgently repent.
Last time we looked at the first reason: our lives will end, and we really don't know how or when. The second reason that we should urgently repent is that God's Longsuffering Will End. Listen again to the parable Jesus told in verses 6-9 to illustrate his point that repentance is urgent. 6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' 8 And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
This parable is not only a picture of God's great mercy, but it also serves as a great warning to those he told it to. Vineyards were obviously very common. This man had a fig tree and it had been there a while. He came looking for fruit on it and didn't find any. He said to the gardener, "Behold." That word behold is a word that indicates surprise. This is not expected. Fig trees did really well and they particularly would do very well in vineyard soil, because vineyard soil was cared for, watered, and fertilized and cultivated. This particular fig tree had been given unique opportunities. Everything was done to make it fruitful. He came expecting to find fruit, but there was none. Then it dawned on him, this is the third year in a row that this tree has failed ot bear fruit. Three is the number of completion, so this tree was completely barren. He sais, "Three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down. Why is it even using up the ground?" This is just an expression of disgust. I mean, why does it even use up the ground. Not only was it not bearing fruit, it was taking up ground that might otherwise be productive. Cut it down.
The fate of these people (the Galileans and those in Siloam) and the message of this parable were not only meant to show the mercy of God towards sinners, but also as a warning that his hearers needed to repent now. The fig tree was a symbol of the nation of Israel. The fig tree had been planted in the most fertile place spiritually. God had sent the patriarchs, the prophets, and had given them priests. Now, he had sent them the vinedresser himself…Jesus. For three years (Jesus' ministry was 3 years in duration), He had crossed and recrossed the vineyard looking for fruit and found none. The Lord had been gracious. He had been merciful. He had been patient. Now it was time for judgment. Jesus warned them in Luke 3:9, "Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." He cursed the fig tree at the end of his 3 year ministry. Israel was cursed and the Gospel was taken to the Gentiles. Rom 11:7-11 describes what happened with Israel. Paul wrote, "What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day." And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever." So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles." The Gospel was taken to the Gentiles because Israel's eyes had been blinded to its truth. Then in A.D. 70 the temple was demolished and 1000's of Jews were massacred by the Romans. Patience had been extended, but now the axe was being swung.
The fact of the matter is, God's Longsuffering will end. One thing you can be sure of….if God's judgment came upon his chosen people…the descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…the people he had invested so much in and had made covenant with…you can be sure that his judgment will not be withheld from you or me as Gentiles. We should not assume that God will give us another year, another month, another week, another day, or even another moment to repent. Romans 2:4 says, "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" The need for repentance is urgent. Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Why is it so urgent to repent? Because it is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment. Your life will end and God's judgment will come.
I want to plead with you to repent today! Rentance is turning from sin. Twice in this passage Jesus says, except you repent, you will all likewise perish. However, he is not saying exactly the same thing in Greek. In verse three he uses a present imperative with continuous force. This means that the word repent carries with it the idea of a continual, daily action. Then in verse 5 he uses an aorist which denotes a single decisive action. Repentance is both a once-for-all event that shapes the whole subsequent course of the life and a day-by-day affair that keeps putting sin away. It is not something that you take care of at the altar one Sunday and then get on with your life. It is a lifestyle: Repent and keep repenting. And it is something that needs to be done now, before it is too late.
Repentance is not just confessing your sin or realizing that you are a sinner. Repentance is turning away from your sin. It is a change of life. It is a change of mind. It is turning away from your worldly affections, attitudes, and actions. The question is, when you turn away, what will you turn to? A better life? The church? Good works? NO! You must turn to Christ alone. You must embrace and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You must take up your cross and follow Him. It is urgent that you do so now. Psalm 32:6 says, "Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him." Repent while He may be found. Turn away from your sin, your flesh, and the world and turn to Christ. Pursue Him. Follow Him. Live for Him. Except you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The Urgency of Repentance: Part 1
There is the story told of a meeting that took place in hell. Satan asked his demons what they were doing to advance his cause and to harm the Kingdom of God. The first demon stood up and said, "I am telling people everywhere that there is no God." Satan replied, "That is good, but everyone knows deep down that there has to be a God of some kind." The second demon in hell said, "I am telling them that there is no afterlife." Satan replied, "I am sure that is affecting some people, but most individuals know that physical death is not the end." Finally, a third demon stood up and said, "My strategy is a little different Satan. I am telling people that there is a God and that there is an afterlife, but I am also telling them that there is always tomorrow." At this, all the demons in hell erupted in joy!
This is the lie that many of us have bought into still today. There is always tomorrow. I will get my life right tomorrow. Whenever I graduate High School I will get my life right. Then we say, whenever I get out of college I will get my spiritual life in order. Then we decide, whenever I finally get married, I will then get my life in order. Our next excuse it to wait until we have kids to get right with God, then it is to wait until the kids are out of the house. Then when the kids are out of the house, we decide to wait until we retire to get right with God. And then, out of nowhere and unexpectedly, we die without getting right with God.
Our relationship with God is not something that we should put off. It is urgent that we repent and that is exactly what the passage of Scripture before us is about. It is urgent for 2 primary reasons that we see in Luke 13:1-9.
Hear the Word of God.
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' 8 And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" Luke 13:1-9
There are two main reasons that we should urgently repent.
First, our life will end. There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. Pilate's rule was marked by briberies and robberies and frequent executions without trials. Apparently Pilate sends his soldiers to slaughter some Galileans for some reason. These soldiers slaughtered a number of Galilean Jews who had come down to offer sacrifices. There is only one place in Israel where you could offer sacrifice and that is the temple. This very likely this is the Passover. These Galileans are worshipping! They are doing what the OT says and Pilate had them killed in the middle of their act of worship.
Jesus asks those who brought him this report, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Just by the way that Jesus addresses these issues at hand, you can tell that the Jewish people had a distorted view of tragedy, pain, and tribulation. Their view was that, if one suffered tragedy or trial then they were obviously worse sinners than those around them. These guys whom Pilate killed in the act of worship must have sinned against God. This was undoubtedly the judgment of God. Their theology was, if calamity falls, it is a good indication that God is judging you. We see this illustrated in the account of John 9:1-2. The Bible records, "As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" They assumed if you were born disabled, then it was due to something you did. If you were born healthy, it was due to how holy you were.
Jesus continues his discourse: Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
Just because the tower fell and you had just left with your water doesn't mean you're more righteous than the ones who were crushed and it doesn’t mean that they were any less righteous than those who escaped. Just because your plane landed and somebody's crashed doesn't mean you're any better than them. Just because things are going well with you does not mean that God is pleased with you. Just because things are falling apart with you does not mean that God is displeased with you.
The fact of the matter is, we are all sinners and we will all die. We all deserve to die. We are so sinful that disasters should not shock us as though something unwarranted were coming upon innocent human beings. There are no innocent human beings. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). There is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10). What should amaze us is not that some are taken in calamity, but that anyone, including us is spared and given another day to repent. The real question is not, what kind of God would allow such tragedy, but what kind of God would let us live. We're all living on borrowed time and it's time we don't deserve. We should all be dead and in hell and if you haven't recognized that about yourself yet, you need to repent.
Jesus goes on to say, "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Jesus looks at the very people who had, in their heart, judged the Galileans killed by Pilate and the people the tower fell on and tells them, unless you repent you will all likewise perish. What does he mean? It is obvious that we cant' all die just like the Galileans who were murdered. We aren't all going to die just like those on whom the tower of Siloam fell. Likewise must mean something else. It can't just mean die, since that is going to happen to those who repent too. So what does he mean? Your end will be unexpected. You will be unprepared. Unless you repent you will all in an unexpected manner and with unprepared hearts perish. Dying without repentance is the true calamity. The real calamity is not that you were killed in the temple or that the tower fell on you or that you died by any other means. The real calamity is that if you don't repent, when death comes you will perish. And since none of us know when death will come, it is urgent that we repent now. The first reason that repentance is urgent is because, our life will end. The second reason we should repent now is that God's longsuffering will end, but we will save that for next time.
This is the lie that many of us have bought into still today. There is always tomorrow. I will get my life right tomorrow. Whenever I graduate High School I will get my life right. Then we say, whenever I get out of college I will get my spiritual life in order. Then we decide, whenever I finally get married, I will then get my life in order. Our next excuse it to wait until we have kids to get right with God, then it is to wait until the kids are out of the house. Then when the kids are out of the house, we decide to wait until we retire to get right with God. And then, out of nowhere and unexpectedly, we die without getting right with God.
Our relationship with God is not something that we should put off. It is urgent that we repent and that is exactly what the passage of Scripture before us is about. It is urgent for 2 primary reasons that we see in Luke 13:1-9.
Hear the Word of God.
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' 8 And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" Luke 13:1-9
There are two main reasons that we should urgently repent.
First, our life will end. There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. Pilate's rule was marked by briberies and robberies and frequent executions without trials. Apparently Pilate sends his soldiers to slaughter some Galileans for some reason. These soldiers slaughtered a number of Galilean Jews who had come down to offer sacrifices. There is only one place in Israel where you could offer sacrifice and that is the temple. This very likely this is the Passover. These Galileans are worshipping! They are doing what the OT says and Pilate had them killed in the middle of their act of worship.
Jesus asks those who brought him this report, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Just by the way that Jesus addresses these issues at hand, you can tell that the Jewish people had a distorted view of tragedy, pain, and tribulation. Their view was that, if one suffered tragedy or trial then they were obviously worse sinners than those around them. These guys whom Pilate killed in the act of worship must have sinned against God. This was undoubtedly the judgment of God. Their theology was, if calamity falls, it is a good indication that God is judging you. We see this illustrated in the account of John 9:1-2. The Bible records, "As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" They assumed if you were born disabled, then it was due to something you did. If you were born healthy, it was due to how holy you were.
Jesus continues his discourse: Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
Just because the tower fell and you had just left with your water doesn't mean you're more righteous than the ones who were crushed and it doesn’t mean that they were any less righteous than those who escaped. Just because your plane landed and somebody's crashed doesn't mean you're any better than them. Just because things are going well with you does not mean that God is pleased with you. Just because things are falling apart with you does not mean that God is displeased with you.
The fact of the matter is, we are all sinners and we will all die. We all deserve to die. We are so sinful that disasters should not shock us as though something unwarranted were coming upon innocent human beings. There are no innocent human beings. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). There is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10). What should amaze us is not that some are taken in calamity, but that anyone, including us is spared and given another day to repent. The real question is not, what kind of God would allow such tragedy, but what kind of God would let us live. We're all living on borrowed time and it's time we don't deserve. We should all be dead and in hell and if you haven't recognized that about yourself yet, you need to repent.
Jesus goes on to say, "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Jesus looks at the very people who had, in their heart, judged the Galileans killed by Pilate and the people the tower fell on and tells them, unless you repent you will all likewise perish. What does he mean? It is obvious that we cant' all die just like the Galileans who were murdered. We aren't all going to die just like those on whom the tower of Siloam fell. Likewise must mean something else. It can't just mean die, since that is going to happen to those who repent too. So what does he mean? Your end will be unexpected. You will be unprepared. Unless you repent you will all in an unexpected manner and with unprepared hearts perish. Dying without repentance is the true calamity. The real calamity is not that you were killed in the temple or that the tower fell on you or that you died by any other means. The real calamity is that if you don't repent, when death comes you will perish. And since none of us know when death will come, it is urgent that we repent now. The first reason that repentance is urgent is because, our life will end. The second reason we should repent now is that God's longsuffering will end, but we will save that for next time.
The Urgency of Repentance: Part 1
There is the story told of a meeting that took place in hell. Satan asked his demons what they were doing to advance his cause and to harm the Kingdom of God. The first demon stood up and said, "I am telling people everywhere that there is no God." Satan replied, "That is good, but everyone knows deep down that there has to be a God of some kind." The second demon in hell said, "I am telling them that there is no afterlife." Satan replied, "I am sure that is affecting some people, but most individuals know that physical death is not the end." Finally, a third demon stood up and said, "My strategy is a little different Satan. I am telling people that there is a God and that there is an afterlife, but I am also telling them that there is always tomorrow." At this, all the demons in hell erupted in joy!
This is the lie that many of us have bought into still today. There is always tomorrow. I will get my life right tomorrow. Whenever I graduate High School I will get my life right. Then we say, whenever I get out of college I will get my spiritual life in order. Then we decide, whenever I finally get married, I will then get my life in order. Our next excuse it to wait until we have kids to get right with God, then it is to wait until the kids are out of the house. Then when the kids are out of the house, we decide to wait until we retire to get right with God. And then, out of nowhere and unexpectedly, we die without getting right with God.
Our relationship with God is not something that we should put off. It is urgent that we repent and that is exactly what the passage of Scripture before us is about. It is urgent for 2 primary reasons that we see in Luke 13:1-9.
Hear the Word of God.
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' 8 And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" Luke 13:1-9
There are two main reasons that we should urgently repent.
First, our life will end. There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. Pilate's rule was marked by briberies and robberies and frequent executions without trials. Apparently Pilate sends his soldiers to slaughter some Galileans for some reason. These soldiers slaughtered a number of Galilean Jews who had come down to offer sacrifices. There is only one place in Israel where you could offer sacrifice and that is the temple. This very likely this is the Passover. These Galileans are worshipping! They are doing what the OT says and Pilate had them killed in the middle of their act of worship.
Jesus asks those who brought him this report, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Just by the way that Jesus addresses these issues at hand, you can tell that the Jewish people had a distorted view of tragedy, pain, and tribulation. Their view was that, if one suffered tragedy or trial then they were obviously worse sinners than those around them. These guys whom Pilate killed in the act of worship must have sinned against God. This was undoubtedly the judgment of God. Their theology was, if calamity falls, it is a good indication that God is judging you. We see this illustrated in the account of John 9:1-2. The Bible records, "As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" They assumed if you were born disabled, then it was due to something you did. If you were born healthy, it was due to how holy you were.
Jesus continues his discourse: Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
Just because the tower fell and you had just left with your water doesn't mean you're more righteous than the ones who were crushed and it doesn’t mean that they were any less righteous than those who escaped. Just because your plane landed and somebody's crashed doesn't mean you're any better than them. Just because things are going well with you does not mean that God is pleased with you. Just because things are falling apart with you does not mean that God is displeased with you.
The fact of the matter is, we are all sinners and we will all die. We all deserve to die. We are so sinful that disasters should not shock us as though something unwarranted were coming upon innocent human beings. There are no innocent human beings. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). There is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10). What should amaze us is not that some are taken in calamity, but that anyone, including us is spared and given another day to repent. The real question is not, what kind of God would allow such tragedy, but what kind of God would let us live. We're all living on borrowed time and it's time we don't deserve. We should all be dead and in hell and if you haven't recognized that about yourself yet, you need to repent.
Jesus goes on to say, "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Jesus looks at the very people who had, in their heart, judged the Galileans killed by Pilate and the people the tower fell on and tells them, unless you repent you will all likewise perish. What does he mean? It is obvious that we cant' all die just like the Galileans who were murdered. We aren't all going to die just like those on whom the tower of Siloam fell. Likewise must mean something else. It can't just mean die, since that is going to happen to those who repent too. So what does he mean? Your end will be unexpected. You will be unprepared. Unless you repent you will all in an unexpected manner and with unprepared hearts perish. Dying without repentance is the true calamity. The real calamity is not that you were killed in the temple or that the tower fell on you or that you died by any other means. The real calamity is that if you don't repent, when death comes you will perish. And since none of us know when death will come, it is urgent that we repent now. The first reason that repentance is urgent is because, our life will end. The second reason we should repent now is that God's longsuffering will end, but we will save that for next time.
This is the lie that many of us have bought into still today. There is always tomorrow. I will get my life right tomorrow. Whenever I graduate High School I will get my life right. Then we say, whenever I get out of college I will get my spiritual life in order. Then we decide, whenever I finally get married, I will then get my life in order. Our next excuse it to wait until we have kids to get right with God, then it is to wait until the kids are out of the house. Then when the kids are out of the house, we decide to wait until we retire to get right with God. And then, out of nowhere and unexpectedly, we die without getting right with God.
Our relationship with God is not something that we should put off. It is urgent that we repent and that is exactly what the passage of Scripture before us is about. It is urgent for 2 primary reasons that we see in Luke 13:1-9.
Hear the Word of God.
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' 8 And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" Luke 13:1-9
There are two main reasons that we should urgently repent.
First, our life will end. There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. Pilate's rule was marked by briberies and robberies and frequent executions without trials. Apparently Pilate sends his soldiers to slaughter some Galileans for some reason. These soldiers slaughtered a number of Galilean Jews who had come down to offer sacrifices. There is only one place in Israel where you could offer sacrifice and that is the temple. This very likely this is the Passover. These Galileans are worshipping! They are doing what the OT says and Pilate had them killed in the middle of their act of worship.
Jesus asks those who brought him this report, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Just by the way that Jesus addresses these issues at hand, you can tell that the Jewish people had a distorted view of tragedy, pain, and tribulation. Their view was that, if one suffered tragedy or trial then they were obviously worse sinners than those around them. These guys whom Pilate killed in the act of worship must have sinned against God. This was undoubtedly the judgment of God. Their theology was, if calamity falls, it is a good indication that God is judging you. We see this illustrated in the account of John 9:1-2. The Bible records, "As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" They assumed if you were born disabled, then it was due to something you did. If you were born healthy, it was due to how holy you were.
Jesus continues his discourse: Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
Just because the tower fell and you had just left with your water doesn't mean you're more righteous than the ones who were crushed and it doesn’t mean that they were any less righteous than those who escaped. Just because your plane landed and somebody's crashed doesn't mean you're any better than them. Just because things are going well with you does not mean that God is pleased with you. Just because things are falling apart with you does not mean that God is displeased with you.
The fact of the matter is, we are all sinners and we will all die. We all deserve to die. We are so sinful that disasters should not shock us as though something unwarranted were coming upon innocent human beings. There are no innocent human beings. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). There is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10). What should amaze us is not that some are taken in calamity, but that anyone, including us is spared and given another day to repent. The real question is not, what kind of God would allow such tragedy, but what kind of God would let us live. We're all living on borrowed time and it's time we don't deserve. We should all be dead and in hell and if you haven't recognized that about yourself yet, you need to repent.
Jesus goes on to say, "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Jesus looks at the very people who had, in their heart, judged the Galileans killed by Pilate and the people the tower fell on and tells them, unless you repent you will all likewise perish. What does he mean? It is obvious that we cant' all die just like the Galileans who were murdered. We aren't all going to die just like those on whom the tower of Siloam fell. Likewise must mean something else. It can't just mean die, since that is going to happen to those who repent too. So what does he mean? Your end will be unexpected. You will be unprepared. Unless you repent you will all in an unexpected manner and with unprepared hearts perish. Dying without repentance is the true calamity. The real calamity is not that you were killed in the temple or that the tower fell on you or that you died by any other means. The real calamity is that if you don't repent, when death comes you will perish. And since none of us know when death will come, it is urgent that we repent now. The first reason that repentance is urgent is because, our life will end. The second reason we should repent now is that God's longsuffering will end, but we will save that for next time.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The Identity of a Killer
I want to write about something that is killing, and yes I mean KILLING our country, our churches, our families, and we as individuals. I want to reveal the identity of a real killer. This is really a recent revelation, but one that is true. It is one of those things that make you want to kick yourself because you can't understand how you could never have seen it before. The thing that I believe is killing us may surprise you. It is none other than discontentment. But it is not that simple. The discontentment that is killing us is a discontentment that is planted and driven by television and cinema.
The examples I could give are absolutely endless, but I will share with you a few that may hit home.
Television and cinema drive discontentment in husbands. On the television, he sees Victoria's Secret models, Hollywood actresses, and women who have had multiple surgeries (and sometimes drugs) in order to achieve what "our society" defines as the "perfect body." (By the way, there are seasons in history where our models today would be repulsive) He then becomes discontent with his wife, his eyes begin to wander, and then his heart begins to wander, and his marriage falls apart, if not in court, in reality.
Television and cinema drive discontentment in wives. On the movie screen she sees handsome men who are hopelessly romantic and say everything right all the time. He is always right on time with the right things and the right words. He seems to be a hero in the home, at work, and yes, even in bed. She then looks at her husband who is kicked back in the recliner, pot belly, balding head, and a hint of body odor and wonders…what did I do? What she doesn't realize is the guy in the movie she just watched is as big of a slob as her husband, if not bigger, and on top of that he is not nearly as loyal, faithful, or wonderful as he appears on the movie screen. It is hard to remember that this is why they are called actors.
Television and cinema drive discontentment in youth. They go watch a movie together and then they simply must have what they see in the movie. After all, if the people on the big screen had little sporty cars with big loud pipes, shouldn't we? If the kids on TV got drunk, smoked pot, spent the night in promiscuity and got away with it, couldn't we? Teens see a movie and the movie dictates for them how they should dress, what they should drive, how they should brush their hair, and how they should live...and that usually costs money...imagine that.
Television and cinema drive discontentment in children. They watch a program where children are portrayed as having a room 30 feet by 60 feet filled with an indoor playground and $10,000 worth of computer equipment and they wonder why they only have bunk beds and a basketball. After all if ______ on TV has it, why can't I? The kids in the commercial seemed to be having a good time. Do you get my drift? Many of us live in homes where husbands, wives, and children are all discontent and the only reason they are all still under one roof is due to necessity. They don't even like each other anymore.
It even applies to churches. People turn on the television and there, portrayed on the screen before them, is a mega church with the best lights, the best band, the best worship, the best pastor, the best children's ministry, the best student ministry, and the biggest budget. After all they even have a single's ministry, a private school, and a McDonald's right next to the bookstore in the foyer. All we have is….well…..church. Then we get discontent, move down the road, and spend our lives looking for First Baptist Six Flags Over Jesus Church rather than plugging in and serving where God has placed us.
Do you get my drift? Discontentment is killing us! It is killing our joy! It is killing our marriages! It is killing our families! It is killing our churches! And to be honest, most of the discontentment comes from the television set and the movie screen….sometimes radio as well. We need to learn to guard against discontentment. Hear the Word of God.
2 Cor 12:10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Phil 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content
1 Tim 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content
Heb 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have
How desperately we need to guard against discontentment. That may mean no more movies. That may mean no more television. That may simply mean a good old fashion reality check and a push out of fantasy land into the real world.
I believe if we worked as hard at our marriages and our families as we do at keeping up with American Idol or the latest movie or sport we would see a difference that would rejuvenate and revive our spouses, our children, our churches, and ourselves. Fight discontentment. Flee it. Live your life and live it the fullest…and you can't do that trying to live someone else's life, even if they are a Hollyweird actor. Let us be content and "give thanks with a grateful heart" for all the people and possessions God HAS blessed us with instead of wasting our lives pursuing what He never intended for us to have.
The examples I could give are absolutely endless, but I will share with you a few that may hit home.
Television and cinema drive discontentment in husbands. On the television, he sees Victoria's Secret models, Hollywood actresses, and women who have had multiple surgeries (and sometimes drugs) in order to achieve what "our society" defines as the "perfect body." (By the way, there are seasons in history where our models today would be repulsive) He then becomes discontent with his wife, his eyes begin to wander, and then his heart begins to wander, and his marriage falls apart, if not in court, in reality.
Television and cinema drive discontentment in wives. On the movie screen she sees handsome men who are hopelessly romantic and say everything right all the time. He is always right on time with the right things and the right words. He seems to be a hero in the home, at work, and yes, even in bed. She then looks at her husband who is kicked back in the recliner, pot belly, balding head, and a hint of body odor and wonders…what did I do? What she doesn't realize is the guy in the movie she just watched is as big of a slob as her husband, if not bigger, and on top of that he is not nearly as loyal, faithful, or wonderful as he appears on the movie screen. It is hard to remember that this is why they are called actors.
Television and cinema drive discontentment in youth. They go watch a movie together and then they simply must have what they see in the movie. After all, if the people on the big screen had little sporty cars with big loud pipes, shouldn't we? If the kids on TV got drunk, smoked pot, spent the night in promiscuity and got away with it, couldn't we? Teens see a movie and the movie dictates for them how they should dress, what they should drive, how they should brush their hair, and how they should live...and that usually costs money...imagine that.
Television and cinema drive discontentment in children. They watch a program where children are portrayed as having a room 30 feet by 60 feet filled with an indoor playground and $10,000 worth of computer equipment and they wonder why they only have bunk beds and a basketball. After all if ______ on TV has it, why can't I? The kids in the commercial seemed to be having a good time. Do you get my drift? Many of us live in homes where husbands, wives, and children are all discontent and the only reason they are all still under one roof is due to necessity. They don't even like each other anymore.
It even applies to churches. People turn on the television and there, portrayed on the screen before them, is a mega church with the best lights, the best band, the best worship, the best pastor, the best children's ministry, the best student ministry, and the biggest budget. After all they even have a single's ministry, a private school, and a McDonald's right next to the bookstore in the foyer. All we have is….well…..church. Then we get discontent, move down the road, and spend our lives looking for First Baptist Six Flags Over Jesus Church rather than plugging in and serving where God has placed us.
Do you get my drift? Discontentment is killing us! It is killing our joy! It is killing our marriages! It is killing our families! It is killing our churches! And to be honest, most of the discontentment comes from the television set and the movie screen….sometimes radio as well. We need to learn to guard against discontentment. Hear the Word of God.
2 Cor 12:10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Phil 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content
1 Tim 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content
Heb 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have
How desperately we need to guard against discontentment. That may mean no more movies. That may mean no more television. That may simply mean a good old fashion reality check and a push out of fantasy land into the real world.
I believe if we worked as hard at our marriages and our families as we do at keeping up with American Idol or the latest movie or sport we would see a difference that would rejuvenate and revive our spouses, our children, our churches, and ourselves. Fight discontentment. Flee it. Live your life and live it the fullest…and you can't do that trying to live someone else's life, even if they are a Hollyweird actor. Let us be content and "give thanks with a grateful heart" for all the people and possessions God HAS blessed us with instead of wasting our lives pursuing what He never intended for us to have.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Finally Home!!!
Well, I finally made it home this morning (Friday) about 9:30 a.m. Jan had an issue with her plane ticket yesterday in New York's JFK airport and they would not allow her to board the plane to DC. It was evident that they would not get the issue resolved before our plane left so I remained behind with her in New York while the rest of the group traveled on ahead. They arrived home last night around 10 p.m. or so.
Delta re-routed Jan and I through Atlanta where they put us up in the Marriot (two free rooms...soft beds....warm showers). We probably felt better last night than the rest of the team. We got up this morning about 4:30 a.m. CST and headed to the Atlanta airport where we FINALLY caught our last plane home!
It was a great trip. It was a difficult trip. It was a costly trip. It was worth it.
Pray for the Mapilla people. Pray for the people we shared the Gospel with that the seed would take root and grow and bear fruit. Pray for God to raise up the next team from our church to go to this people group. And pray for God to call out the person who should lead the area of India missions in our church.
Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement. Until next time...
Delta re-routed Jan and I through Atlanta where they put us up in the Marriot (two free rooms...soft beds....warm showers). We probably felt better last night than the rest of the team. We got up this morning about 4:30 a.m. CST and headed to the Atlanta airport where we FINALLY caught our last plane home!
It was a great trip. It was a difficult trip. It was a costly trip. It was worth it.
Pray for the Mapilla people. Pray for the people we shared the Gospel with that the seed would take root and grow and bear fruit. Pray for God to raise up the next team from our church to go to this people group. And pray for God to call out the person who should lead the area of India missions in our church.
Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement. Until next time...
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