Dear Explorer,
Read Luke 13:1-5
Death has a way of getting our attention, doesn't it? We've talked before that Jesus wanted the people to quit thinking that bad things happen because people are not in a right relationship with God. Here you see Him repeating that.
But I believe He is using this question about death to remind us of some very important truths.
Dying is universal. Everyone is going to do it until Jesus returns! 100%. What you should focus on is being in a right relationship with God and helping others to be in a right relationship with God so that you and they will be prepared for the absolutely certain upcoming event – death.
If you are in a right relationship with God (you have invited Jesus into your God-shaped vacuum) then physical death is just a promotion to Heaven. If you are not in a right relationship to God – then you will be separated from God for all eternity.
Physical death (death to the BODY) is not something that happens to a select few, so make sure you are ready!
Read Luke 13:6-8
Here Jesus is still talking about death and warns that there is coming a time when it will be too late to bear fruit (by obeying the Holy Spirit) or to reap the harvest (telling others the Good News). We need to be aware that our time to obey and serve Him is NOW. This lifetime is our one and only chance to serve Him. You will never have this day again.
I was on a school bus with my high school choir traveling to a choir competition. I felt God prompting me to change seats and go sit by a certain girl. I had shared the Good News with her younger sister, and she had invited Jesus into her life. Now I felt a deep concern for the older sister. She was sitting by herself and I just moved up and asked if I could sit beside her. We talked about her plans for after graduation and she wanted to know mine. We talked a little about our different colleges. I told her that I was excited about going to a Christian college as it would better prepare me to serve Jesus. She laughed and said she wanted to go to a big University and party hearty. I told her if she ever wanted to talk, I was available. About a year later, I heard that she had died while partying.
It really bothered me that I had not ever shared the Good News with her. I wonder if I was fully obedient to what God wanted me to do that day on the bus? It taught me to be a little more aware that this may be my one and only chance to talk with someone. If God is prompting you to share – then do it!
And yes, I believe Jesus is telling this parable as a warning to those who are not being obedient. I believe this parable is saying that if you have invited Him into your God-shaped core, but you are not growing or being obedient, you may find your life on earth shortened. God is patient, but we have no guarantee of how long that patience will continue before He says, “Enough!”
In His service, dale
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