Monday, March 1, 2010

Living in Faith in a Dangerous World Luke 9:1-9

Luke wrote down some of the questions people asked Jesus as they searched to better understand the tragedies of their day. We are no different 2000 years later. We want and seek out reasonable answers that satisfy our human sense of justice when tragedy happens. And Jesus responded to the questions not based in a human understanding of justice but by naming, out-loud, our need to repent of our sins and our simple mortality. The crowd looked for a reason, like a sin of the victims, that caused such tragedy; and Jesus offered no reason and named no such sin.


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.” Luke 13:1-5 NIV.


Jesus challenged his first hearers to respond to tragedy by repenting of their sins, acknowledging their humanity and their need for a savior. Jesus offered no explanation why such tragedies happened. Still some claim to know why tragedy happens even when our Lord doesn't offer an easy causal explanation.

I'm reminded visiting with folks from church and listening to news reports from Chile and Haiti that we are fragile. Calamities still overwhelm humans as they did in Jesus day. A favorite radio host sometimes plays a somewhat fatalistic soundbite saying, "Life is dangerous." He's right, it is and it always has been. Knowing how precious and precarious our existence is we still look for sin as the explanation and the cause of tragedy. When confronted directly with the question, "Who sinned ... that this man was born blind?" Jesus challenged those looking for a sin as the cause of tragedy saying that this man's blindness would help reveal the glory of God. He challenges us to look both for the glory of God that can be revealed in tragedy and to repent of our own sins as we face our own mortality.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What Do I Need To Know To Go To Heaven?

1. You Are A Sinner.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

2. There Is A Price On Sin.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." Revelation 20:14


3. Jesus Died To Pay For Your Sins.
"But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

4. Salvation Is Not Of Our Works. It Is Through Jesus Christ.
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Romans 4:5

5. God Wants To Save You If You Will Just Put Your Trust In Him.
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13

If you understand these facts and want to go to Heaven, you can!
Simply put your trust in Jesus Christ and ask Him to save you.
If you need help with a prayer, I will include one in this post:

Dear Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and deserve to go to Hell, but I believe you died for me and paid for all my sins. Please save me, Jesus, and take me to Heaven when I die.
I am only trusting you for my salvation.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

If you prayed that prayer and meant what you said, YOU ARE SAVED !!!


Please get into a good Independent, Fundamental Baptist Church and learn as much as you can about our wonderful Saviour.


If we never meet on earth, I will see you in Heaven. =)