'I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.' Luke 13:3 (NKJV)
It's been one month since I lasted posted concerning the Covid-19 virus. Much has happened since then, and at the same time, it feels like not much at all has happened. In fact, probably like you, I often find myself loosing track of time. What day is it? How many weeks have we been locked down? Easter is this Sunday? What?! We've all had time to reflect a bit and wonder, 'What has happened?' and 'What is happening?' Laying aside all conspiracy theories, let's explore that for a bit.
Previously, we saw that God is sovereign over all, that He 'makes peace and creates calamity,' (Isa. 45:7), that when calamity strikes a city, we must recognize that 'the Lord has done this' (Amos 3:6). While God is sovereign, at the same time we are responsible for our actions (Acts 2:23). And of course, we also saw that the Christian's trust is to be in God during such times of calamity, as it should be at all times. But what else might we learn in times such as this?
In the gospel of Luke, there were those who were talking with Jesus and told him about a group of Galileans who had been murdered by Pilate. He gave an interesting answer to them to say the least, then highlights an event concerning the tower of Siloam, which fell randomly it would seem, on eighteen people. In that instance, He points out that those men were no worse sinners than the rest who were in Jerusalem at that time. So we shouldn't conclude necessarily that in God's providence, and under His sovereignty, that these men were circled out and killed by God because they had committed some particular sin, although we learn elsewhere in Scripture that God sometimes does this. (See Acts 12:23.) So what question should we ask when we see tragedy strike, whether it's murder or what men would call a random accident, or a virus that shuts down much of the world? That's a great question!
In both instances mentioned in the Biblical text above, in verses three and five, Jesus says, 'Unless you repent, you will likewise perish.' What? 'But I haven't done anything!' one might say. Think again. 'All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God' (Rom. 3:23). 'The wages of sin is death...' (Rom. 6:23a). Every sin deserves God's wrath and curse. You see, we don't understand the depth of our sin against God, nor do we understand the utter holiness of God, and therefore neither do we understand, or want to admit what our sins deserve.
I remember when I was about 19 years old hearing John MacArthur preach at my home church, in Lithonia, GA. He spoke on Isaiah 6, where the prophet had a vision of God in the temple, and fell as a dead man. (Admittedly, Dr. MacArthur later noted that he got much of his material from a friend, Dr. R.C. Sproul!) Anyway, in that sermon he pointed out that the question we should be asking is not, 'Why do bad things happen?' or, 'Why do bad things happen to good people?' but rather, 'Why does anybody live?' You see, that's the proper perspective, and that's what Jesus is getting at in Luke 13. 'The wages of sin is death!' So why are we alive? That's the question! Whether it's the murder of innocent people, random deadly accidents, the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, a 911 terrorist attack, or a global pandemic, we see what we all deserve because of our sin and rebellion against a holy, holy, holy God. These are all foreshadows of the judgement and eternal wrath and curse to come. We all deserve death and Hell! But this is not where we end the conversation! There's this thing called 'gospel' or 'good news!' Jesus said, 'UNLESS, you repent.’ So what happens if one repents?
I've already mentioned the first half of Romans 6:23, but consider the whole verse: 'The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.' That's a summary statement of the gospel by the Apostle Paul. In other words, Jesus, the sinless Son of God took the curse of sin for sinners. Jesus died in the place of sinners which means He paid their fine, so they wouldn't have to experience eternal death in Hell forever. So when a person turns from his sin and puts his trust in Jesus, he receives the gift of eternal life! So have you looked at death, witnessing the calamity of others, and considered what you deserve? Have you fled to Jesus for forgiveness and refuge from the terrible judgment of God?
Jesus is the reason Christians can have confidence and hope during times such as this. Even though the Christian's body will die, that death is only a portal to the very presence of God, heaven itself! (And then there's the resurrection at the last day, another topic for another time.) So in light of the gloom and death found in this world, we who believe in Jesus have the promise of resurrection life in the world to come! This is why the Christian can stare death in the face, and say with the Apostle Paul, 'O death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?' 'But thanks be to God who gives the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (1 Cor. 15:55,57) And all God's people said, 'Amen!' -Pastor Kevin