All we need know is that when we dabble and play with ideas in our minds, encouraging the sinner that lurks in us, or even when we try it our way, it is then that we have nothing to look forward to but fearful expectation of inevitable sorrow to cross our path. We must keep our conscience clear so that when trouble comes, (and it most assuredly will) we can hold our chin up and suffer wrongfully.

91.   Do you think that they were sinners?

Luke 13:1-5, “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

You may call it instinct, or intuition, or conscience, but we all have the voice within us that asks, “Why did this happen to me?” Whenever calamity strikes, we immediately think of causes in our life that may have brought about the situation. We judge ourselves and take inventory of our recent past when troubles present themselves, and the severity of the calamity is proportional to the depth of the searching. If the pain or loss is deep enough, we are willing to examine our lives back to our first recollection of sin. Dredging up every little thing we can think of, we place our sacrifice of confession at the feet of our accuser.

Are our sins the cause of our misery? Does the past have power over the fortune of the future? When tragedy crawls over the horizon to torment us, can we find the cause for its presence within our own record of sin?

There are victims of war, there are starving persons in Cambodia, Bangladesh, Calcutta, there are homeless in Chicago, New York there are victims of drive-by shootings, public bombings, raids, riots and burglary in all cities. Do you think that these were sinners because they suffered such things? Do you think that they only got what they deserved? Do you think that there was some sin in their life that caused their demise? No, (Jesus would say) there was no sin that caused it, but except you repent you will die like they did.

There is a price to disobedience. There are costs involved in living by our own devices and by our own wits, outside of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Does living outside of Christ’s Kingdom cause these calamities? No, but unless you repent you will likely perish by them.

How many of us have looked at a friend or acquaintance and upon contemplating their misfortune wondered why “everything” seems to happen to them. Have we ever listened to someone tell their story and it is populated with every kind of misfortune imaginable and wondered why they continually get the bad deal, the bad “luck” or the short end of the stick? Are these people sinners above all others? Are they worse than most of the other people who have relatively few troubles in life? No, but except you repent you will all likewise perish.

In the Scripture above, the “tower of Siloam” was a description of the garrison of soldiers that guarded that area. Pilate sent these soldiers in to slay in cold blood the worshipers who were visiting from another part of the country as they were making sacrifice. Thus it is said that their blood was mingled with sacrifices [blood].

This was a horrible tragedy and it undoubtedly caused many to wonder and doubt the sincerity and purity of the worshippers whom God watched die at the hands of wicked men, doing nothing to stop it. Jesus asked, “Were these men more wicked than all who were at Jerusalem?” He answers is own question in the negative, then adds, “but… except you repent you will all likewise perish.”

What Is He Telling Us?

Is He saying that if we repent we will not suffer such things? We know this is not the case, but He IS saying that we most assuredly will suffer these things if we do not repent.

The main difference is the word “perish.” When these troublesome things happen to some people they perish by the trouble, when it happens to the righteous it makes them better. Calamity follows some people around. Individuals who lie all the time, those who you cannot believe anything they say, have many troubles in their life. Just ask them! Their lives are tragedies in most every area.

Those who steal, those who cheat, those who slight men what is due, who don’t follow rules, who don’t obey when not being watched, and those who cannot be trusted, are usually plagued with every sorrow and calamity. This calamity and misfortune seems endless in the lives of these poor souls and they are usually blind to its cause. They convince themselves that they must cheat and/or steal to get by or to make up for their “bad luck.”

When we step from the higher plain to indulge in a little cheating (just a little) or we move to a darker mode of thought, we are toying with this network of misfortune and inviting it to join itself with us.

When we say that which is not true, when we exaggerate or diminish (whatever benefits us most), when we demand what is exact when it is coming to us and then pay out with a slack hand, when we are quick to collect a debt yet slow to pay one; when we refuse to suffer, refuse to give, refuse to lose; when we cheat the lengthy path and search for shortcuts, we are dabbling with the cause for all men’s troubles. Our most valuable ally, our conscience, is in danger of being compromised.

The newspaper, the radio, and TV news all are replete with stories of the misfortunate innocents of coincidence. “If they had not been there at that time the train would have not hit their car.” The recent sniper in Washington triggered more thoughts of intriguing coincidences “If he had not arrived at that moment he would have never encountered the gunmen.”

These are speculations we all consider when senseless calamities strike the lives of the blameless. A little faster, a little slower, if they had come another night, if they hadn’t come at all – how are we to defend against such a thing if there is no pattern – no plan – no justice?

Because we have toyed with sin we are beleaguered with uncertainty. Because of our uncertainty we are plagued with “if” scenarios in our mind that go nowhere and accomplish nothing. We are perishing under our load not the weight of those who stalk us, or the calamities that await us.

All we need know is that when we dabble and play with ideas in our minds, encouraging the sinner that lurks in us, or even when we try it our way, it is then that we have nothing to look forward to but fearful expectation of inevitable sorrow to cross our path. We must keep our conscience clear so that when trouble comes, (and it most assuredly will) we can hold our chin up and suffer wrongfully.

If we suffer for no cause of our own making, we may bypass the soul-searching, the sin dredging, and the self-abasement and loathing. We need not wonder what we have done to deserve our fate; we can know that we’ve done nothing amiss. This is the secret to joy in tribulation. Who would have thought it? It is as simple as: Do right – always.

When you hear of the senseless death or trouble of seemingly innocent folks and wonder if they were involved in some sinful behavior, hear the Lord’s question again, “Do you think that they were sinners, above all others?

Then hear his answer, “No, but except you repent…”