In the light of a disaster like the Haitian earthquake, it is instructive to listen to what Jesus Christ said when He heard about eighteen people who were killed when a tower fell on them. In Luke 13:4 we read, “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
At least one well-known religious leader in commenting on the earthquake said that the Haitians had made a pact with the devil and by implication this explains why bad things have continued to happen to them. It seems to me that Jesus’ quote makes that comment of no consequence. Jesus’ statement is that the people who died in the Siloam collapse were not worse sinners than others. And I think He would say that the Haitians are not worse sinners than others. His warning is that all sinners will also perish.
God is serious about sin and his judgment produces consequences both in this life and the next. The curse is real. We will all die of something and it may be painful or gruesome or maybe not. But it will still happen. There is going to be suffering in this life. But what is worse is the suffering that will follow our death if we don’t have someone to take our place in that suffering. The good news from Jesus is that He bore our sins on the cross and suffered our eternal punishment there. What He asks from us is to trust Him in this. He promises that those who trust Him will be spared eternal judgment. Do you believe Him?
No comments:
Post a Comment