Luke 13:1-5
Multiple natural disasters or catastrophes happen throughout each year and at various places around the world. Each time we hear about something horrific, we feel bad for the people affected and wish it had not happened. Unless given an ultimatum for the danger zones, before the catastrophe hits, many people still reject the idea of leaving their house and belongings behind; they wait until the last minute to decide what to do. But, there are always those whom, because of previous experiences in life or having learned from the mistakes of others, they will leave before disaster strikes; they have seen from previous dangerous situations, what could happen to them if they are stubborn and stay. In other words, there are those who prepare themselves.
After the tragedy occurs, some will ask: “Why was my house reached if it was never reached before?” or “Why did God allow this to happen?” As humans, we look for someone to blame, or, at least an explanation for such catastrophes. We don’t need to elaborate great theories, after all, we build houses on the waterside, we pour concrete and make embankments in places where they once were marshlands and swamps, and then we want to question the reasons for houses being reached by flooding, for example. In addition, waste being dumped into rivers is still an issue, (3rd world countries, I know) – places where the majority of the human population lives, not to mention the destruction of forests. We plan, we construct, we choose, we buy, we choose to go, we choose to stay, etc… Life is made of choices, granted we never had the choice to choose the biological parents we would have, or choose the house we would grow up in, the country where to be born in, etc… But, as we wake up each day, we are given 24 hours. What are we doing with the 24 hours given to us each day? Even if you must work 8hrs a day and sleep 8hrs a day, what do you do with the other 8hrs? Many people are sure more productive than others; while many others can no longer be productive. Yet, others never had a chance to be productive (e.g.: a young baby that passed away).
In the text today, we see that Jesus was questioned in regards to a few men that had been murdered in a brutal manner by Pilate. Jesus brought to their memory another tragic episode that had happened – a tower fell and killed 18 people. Those that died, were they more guilty than the ones who escaped? So, the ones reached by catastrophes, were they worse sinners than those who were not reached by nature’s fury? The answer is simple: Of course not! However, we need to prepare for the day when God will judge each one of us. As Jesus said in the text we read, “…unless you repent, you too will all perish” (v. 3 & 5) – this had a spiritual meaning just like everything else Jesus referred to.
Only through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and confession of our sins and disobedience to God can we prepare in an acceptable way for the day in which we will be accountable to God for all we have said and done (Romans 14:12, Matthew 12:47).
Will you prepare now or will you leave it for later when it’s too late?
