It was reported to Jesus that some Galileans were killed by Pilate while they were offering sacrifices of animals at the temple. The response of Jesus was quite amazing:
"And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eigheen on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwell in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:2 - 5, NKJV, emphasis added).
I believe if Jesus was walking with us when the Tsunami struck, some of us would ask Him the same question and He would give the same answer.
Most of us are quick to make assessment of the outcome of any disasters with our human wisdom and presumptuousness. It is so tempting to say that God was pronouncing judgement to those who perished in the midst of the tsunami and earthquakes because they were greater sinners. I have even heard christians said, those holiday-makers who perished in these disasters were worse sinners because they were worldly and did not care about anything but to enjoy themselves.
You see, Jesus did not deny that judgement of God is coming, but He divorced Himself in exercising justice to a particular group of people at a particular situation and time. He was not heartless in his assessment of the situation. He said, "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish" twice in the above verses of Scripture. He says, all are sinners and unless they repent they will all perish, perhaps in different situations or circumstances. In His eyes there is no such thing as worse sinners or sinners of lesser degree. But there is such thing as repentance.
The fact is that the earth is degrading and perishing due to the increase of sin of mankind.
The earth was created perfect (Gen. 1:10).
Read also:
"For this is what the Lord says - he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited - he says: 'I am the Lord, and there is not other'" (Isaiah 45:18, NIV).
But due to the increase of man's sin everything will be destroyed and God is creating a new heaven and new earth for those who seek repentance (Revelation 21:1).
Peter said,
"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the to the day of God and speed its coming" (2 Peter 3:11,12, NIV, emphasis added).
Notice that God is looking for the "kind of people" with godly and holy conduct and character. His emphasis is not on what we can do in our christian and Church activities.
For christians who say they need no repentance I suggest they read what Paul said:
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, trators, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power, And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1 to 5, NKJV, emphasis added).
Notice that there are 18 moral blemishes listed by Paul. The kind of people living with these blemishes do not have the godly and holy conduct and character that God seeks after. Christians who turn away from such people have a good start in seeking repentance.
Notice also that "such people" are christisns because they "have a form of godliness".
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