“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
I have not always been repentant. Before I was following Christ, I was living for myself on purpose. Not that I knew I could or should repent—perhaps I ignored the signs, the still small voice, or what I know as God’s prevenient grace. I was living for me and not for God. I was doing what I wanted to do rather than what God called me to do.
And then I met the Lord. I surrendered my life to Him, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit living inside of me called me to repentance. From that moment on, I clearly knew it. It’s like being in the presence of someone great—they urge you to be great also. But in this sense, I was living in God’s presence like never before. Thus, I knew my sin was not what pleased Him.
Jesus is calling His listeners in Luke 13 to repent—i.e., to turn back to God. He gives two examples of Jews who suffered and died. First, the Romans took the blood of some Galileans and desecrated the Temple sacrifice by mixing their blood with the blood on the altar. It was an abomination to God and an insult to those who had died. Their reputations were tainted, in addition to their lives being lost. Then there were other Jews who apparently lost their lives when the “tower of Siloam fell on them,” to which Jesus asks, “Were they more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?”
In other words, these two groups died by accident (or were killed on purpose) without repenting. Were they more guilty of their sin than us? The need for all to repent and turn back to God now is what matters.
The old Baptist preacher who always said, “If you died tonight, would you go to heaven?” was right. Although we should not turn to Christ merely for “life insurance,” we should turn to Him for a relationship of purpose and worth. But the fact remains: we will all die. And if we trust the Lord to save us—not by putting blood on an altar or doing good deeds, for this does not save!—what saves is grace through faith. We believe and thus are saved by the blood through the sacrifice of Christ on the altar of the cross.
Do I live perfectly now? Of course not! Am I moving on toward perfection, as Wesley promoted? Perhaps! But each and every day is a battle to line up my thoughts with His thoughts, my actions with His, and my will with God’s.
So today, my friends, repent and believe the Gospel, and you will be saved. And you will be blessed beyond all measure.
“O Lord God, You are a faithful, loving, and patient Lord. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me up. Call me to Yourself. Bless my days even as You have numbered them. Help me live for You. I love You and trust You, Lord. For You are good and Your love endures forever.” Amen.