September 8, 2004
Who's To Blame?
Read: Luke 13:1-5
Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners? —Luke 13:2
Bible In One Year: Proverbs 3-5; 2 Corinthians 1
A husband and wife were killed when their car was struck by a drunk driver. Why did this happen? They were good people, active in their church, and dearly loved. They were in no way at fault, and we can't blame God for the other driver getting drunk.
Some people would blame the devil. Yet we must recognize the fact that an intoxicated driver who loses control of his car is likely to kill someone.
Jesus referred to two tragedies that occurred in His day. In one, Pilate had killed some Galileans and mixed their blood with their sacrifices (Luke 13:1). In the other, 18 Israelites died when a tower fell on them (v.4). The idea was that people who died like that must have been guilty of horrendous sins.
Jesus rejected that kind of thinking. He told His hearers that instead of trying to find someone to blame, they should see such events as a call to repentance. If they willfully rejected Him as their Messiah and persisted in that sin, they would face a fearful end.
When we hear of inexplicable tragedies, let's be content to leave the "why" question unanswered. Assured of God's love (Romans 8:39), let's look at these events as a time for self-examination and repentance. —Herb Vander Lugt
The question that we all must face
Is "Have we chosen to repent
And trusted Christ whom God has sent?" —D. De Haan
Life's tragedies are a call to reflect and repent.