Meditation: What can a calamity, such as a political blood-bath or a natural disaster, teach us about Gods kingdom and the consequences of bad choices and sinful actions? Jesus used two such occasions to address the issue of sin and judgment with his Jewish audience. Pilate, who was the Roman governor of Jerusalem at the time, ordered his troops to slaughter a group of Galileans who had come up to Jerusalem to offer sacrifice in the Temple. We do not know what these Galileans did to incite Pilates wrath, nor why Pilate chose to attack them in the holiest of places for the Jews, in their temple at Jerusalem. For the Jews, this was political barbarity and sacrilige at its worst! The second incident which Jesus addressed was a natural disaster, a tower in Jerusalem which unexpectely collasped, killing 18 people. The Jews often associated such calamities and disasters as a consequence of sin. Scripture does warn that sin can result in calamity! Though the righteous fall seven times, and rise again; the wicked are overthrown by calamity (Proverbs 24:16). The real danger and calamity which Jesus points out is that an unexpected disaster or a sudden death does not give us time to repent of our sins and to prepare ourselves to meet the Judge of heaven and earth. The Book of Job reminds us that misfortune and calamity can befall both the righteous and the unrighteous alike. Jesus gives a clear warning take responsibility for your actions and moral choices and put sin to death today before it can destroy your heart, mind, soul, and body as well. Unrepentant sin is like a cancer which corrupts us from within. If it is not eliminated through repentance asking God for forgiveness and for his healing grace, it leads to a spiritual death which is far worse than physical destruction. Jesus parable of the barren fig trees illustrated his warning about the consequences of allowing sin and corruption to take root in our hearts and minds. Fig trees were a common and important source of food for the people of Palestine. A fig tree normally matured within three years, producing plentiful fruit. If it failed, it was cut down to make room for more healthy trees. A decaying fig tree and its bad fruit came to symbolize for the Jews the consequence of spiritual corruption caused by evil deeds and unrepentant sin. The unfruitful fig tree symbolized the outcome of Israels unresponsiveness to the word of God. The prophets depicted the desolation and calamity of Israel, due to her unfaithfulness to God, as a languishing fig tree (see Joel 1:7,12; Habakuk 3:17; and Jeremiah 8:13). Jeremiah likened good and evil rulers and members of Israel with figs that were good for eating and figs that were rotten and useless (Jeremiah 24:2-8). Jesus parable depicts the patience of God, but it also contains a warning that we should not presume upon patience and mercy. Gods judgment will come sooner or later in due course. Why does God judge his people? He judges to purify and cleanse us of all sin that we might grow in his holiness and righteousness. And he disciplines us for our own good, to inspire a godly fear and reverence for him and his word. God is patient, but for those who persistently and stubbornly rebel against him and refuse to repent, there is the consequence that they will lose their soul to hell. Are Gods judgments unjust or unloving? When Gods judgments are revealed in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness (Isaiah 26:9). To pronounce Gods judgment on sin is much less harsh than what will happen if those who sin are not warned to repent. God, in his mercy, gives us time to get right with him, but THAT TIME IS NOW. We must not assume that there is no hurry. A sudden and unexpected death leaves one no time to prepare to settle ones accounts when he or she must stand before the Lord on the day of judgment. Jesus warns us that we must be ready at all times. Tolerating sinful habits and excusing unrepentant sin will result in bad fruit and eventual destruction. The Lord in his mercy gives us both grace and time to turn away from sin, but that time is right now. If we delay, even for a day, we may discover that grace has passed us by and our time is up. Do you hunger for the Lords righteousness and holiness? Lord Jesus, increase my hunger for you that I may grow in righteousness and holiness. May I not squander the grace of the present moment to say yes to you and to your will and plan for my life. CRUCIFIED FLESH(see Gal 5:24) Those who live according to the flesh are intent on the things of the flesh, those who live according to the Spirit, on those of the Spirit. Romans 8:5 Remember that you have been called to live in freedom but not a freedom that gives free rein to the flesh (Gal 5:13). Most of the time, in St. Pauls writings, the flesh means our human nature. Although not all of our fleshly desires are bad, our flesh nevertheless demands our total attention. In effect, our flesh wants to be our god. Therefore, the flesh in its tendency is at enmity with God; it is not subject to Gods law. Indeed, it cannot be; those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Rm 8:7-8). Only the Spirit is stronger than the flesh. Only by the Spirit can we resist the temptation to give in to the idolatry of flesh, self, and pleasure. My point is that you should live in accord with the Spirit and you will not yield to the cravings of the flesh. The flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; the two are directly opposed (Gal 5:16-17). If you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the evil deeds of the body, you will live (Rm 8:13). Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirits lead (Gal 5:24-25). Prayer: Father, crucify my flesh with its passions and desires. Promise: Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 15:40:42 +0000
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