World Class Protection at No Cost

(Luke 13:1-5)

Sound too good to be true? If this was a website that was selling security and you saw a claim like that you would probably be thinking, “Yeah, right!” But you know there is a level of protection available that is even better than “world class” protection and security. And in this day and age of terrorism and all manner of evil on our streets, its an offer to important not to check out. So if you want to know about “God class” security…read on.

Evil Times or Evil People?

Jesus described some situations in this section of scripture where people suffered evil times. There were a group of Galileans who were killed and their blood offered in sacrifice to the Roman false gods by Pontius Pilate. Clearly these people suffered in evil times.

But what did Jesus say about these people. He said, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? I tell you, No.” (Verses 2-3) They were no worse than any other Galileans at the time. They were not more or less evil. They just happened to be the ones selected by Pilate to be killed and suffer this way.

Then Jesus talks about another group of eighteen people on whom a tower fell and they were killed. What did Jesus say about them? “Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Silo’am fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you.” (Verses 4-5)

Jesus did not consider they were any worse than any of the others who happened to be wandering about the pool of Siloam that day. These ones just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It is often said that when evil befalls a person it is some kind of payback for evil they have done. But that is not what Jesus was teaching here. It isn’t karma, like some religions teach. It is just that stuff happens to all people and these ones happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were no better and no more evil than anyone else.

God’s Protection

However, Jesus added one other statement to both of these scriptures that I have omitted in the sections quoted above. In both cases he showed the mechanism by which we can have God’s protection and not have to suffer these evils.

Jesus said in both cases, “…unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Verses 3 & 5) Read that line again. Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

When a person repents and comes to God through Jesus Christ they come under the protection of God. His protection is better than anything a man can give for his protection is 24/7, 365 days a year (and 366 in a leap year!)

Without repentance every person is at the whim of random events that could snuff out their life before they even realise it. But when a person turns to God, they can be confident in the knowledge that when ANYTHING befalls them it is in the plan of God, and they will not be taken unless and until it is the appointed time set by God.

Pretty amazing stuff! And all that is required is to turn to God, repent of your old sinful ways and seek the truth.

And here’s the best part. Jesus also offers a better life now and the promise of eternal life in the future without sin, sickness, disease or any form of evil. Protection now and a bonus to come. Kind of like those super salesmen, “But wait, there’s more…and we’re not talking about steak knives!”

So no more pain?

Not quite. What is provided is protection, not cotton wool to wrap yourself in and keep you from the world entirely.

For our own growth and maturity we have to go through certain things. We have to be tempted and as Christians we will suffer for the sake of our faith. Satan stands opposed to us and his people will do all in their power to attack and destabilise us.

But as Paul wrote, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

It is necessary that we are tempted, but God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our strength and our capability to handle the temptation. Note the last few words in this scripture where it says we will have the ability to “endure it.” We won’t escape it, but we will have the endurance to go through it and come out stronger at the other end.

Do Christians still suffer? Absolutely. Does this mean that all I have said here about God’s protection is a load of rubbish or a pipe dream? Definitely not! I can testify of the protection from God in my own life on at least three major occasions where I suffered health and accident injuries and the Lord saved me from each of these. If you want to see the testimonies on these and other matters, check my website at your leisure.

I know there is protection from God because I have seen it and experienced it in my own life. This scripture in Luke 13:1-5 backs up that truth and I take comfort in this knowledge. And I would finish this section by taking the words of the writer of Hebrews who said, “I will never fail you nor forsake you.” Hence we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

(Photo sourced from stock.xchng www.sxc.hu/)

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