Setting Some Things Straight

Setting Some Things Straight

Luke 13:1-5

1 About that time some people came up and told him about the Galileans Pilate had killed while they were at worship, mixing their blood with the blood of the sacrifices on the altar. 2 Jesus responded, "Do you think those murdered Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you too will die. 4 And those eighteen in Jerusalem the other day, the ones crushed and killed when the Tower of Siloam collapsed and fell on them, do you think they were worse citizens than all other Jerusalemites? 5 Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you too will die."

(The Message)

It amazes me how often God arranges events in the world to highlight Scripture. Let’s just look as three headlines from recent days and I think you will begin to understand what I mean.

First, is the cave-in and subsequent death of twelve miners at the Sago mine in West Virginia. Who among us didn’t hope and pray, in the early hours, for a rescue of all thirteen? And when that hope was lifted and then dashed, we couldn’t help but feel the pain and sorrow of the families.

Next, we must journey to Israel. I’m certain we are all aware of the series of strokes suffered by Ariel Sharon. People across the nation were gathering in synagogues to pray for his rapid and full recovery. Many consider Sharon one of the best hopes for a peaceable resolution to the tensions between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs.

And finally, it was reported that Pat Robertson, on the 700 Club TV program declared that Ariel Sharon’s strokes were God’s punishment for giving away the Promised Land to non-Jews. If this particular story doesn’t upset you – it should!

Rarely, do current events give me such a close parallel to Christ’s words in Scripture. I suggest you reread the Luke passage and substitute Pat Robertson for the people who came up to Jesus; Ariel Sharon for those whose blood Pilate spilled; and the miners in W. Virginia for the workers at Siloam. Can you see the relationship?

My point in all of this is much like Christ’s, stuff happens. Good and bad things befall each of us every day and they happen not because we are sinners (for we all are). The bad things in life happen just because they do!

To suggest that Ariel Sharon’s stroke is divine punishment is a distortion of the teachings of Christ! In truth, we all deserve to be stricken down were we stand for our sin. Yet, some of us will give birth tomorrow, some may win the lottery, and others will recognize how much God has blessed their life today.

The message of Christ is crystal clear – we are sinners who need to repent and change our ways. If we fail to do so, we might not like the place where we will spend eternity. The challenge is to resist all temptation to point a finger at someone else’s misfortune. We must be sure we never say to one who is suffering; “God is punishing you for ….” Instead we must look at our own sin-filled lives and see what changes we need to make to make them ‘Son filled.’

Merciful God, we are sinners in dire need of your mercy, grace, and redemption. Help us Lord, to clean up our lives and never lose sight of the need to show compassion for others when they suffer, even our enemies. We ask this, in the name of your gift of grace, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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