During these times we see and hear of many different unexplainable events. This is not new. God is in charge and in control of all things, we need not be surprised that it is not within our grasp to explain God. He is not explainable. He is sovereign and eternal. He sees all the works of man’s hands and all man’s doings and his carrying on, whether they are good or not good; whether they are naturally adulterous or spiritually adulterous. His word says we are living in faulty (evil) generation. In Luke chapter 13:1-9 we find an interesting, but tragically unfortunate account of an event having occurred under the reign of Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea around A.D. 28. Pilate was known to be a cruel and violent leader in constant conflict with the Jewish people. Some prejudice persons today might say, “well he ought to have been mean and vicious to them (keep reading).” Some came and told Jesus about Pilate’s massacre of Galileans whose blood had been mingled with their sacrifices. According to this passage, Pilate executed some Galileans while they were in Jerusalem offering sacred sacrifices. A vantage point from the Roman Garrison allowed them to see the activities in the temple. It appears these Galileans did something that was not liked and the soldiers were ordered to slaughter them right inside the temple as they were offering their sacred sacrifices. Those who came and were present (Luke 13;1-5) during the time Jesus was teaching wanted to know about why this happened and who was at fault and who was guilty to deserve to die in this massacre. Jesus speaks to them and asked, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the others who didn’t die in the massacre?” Jesus explains to them, those who suffered in this tragedy were no more guilty than those who did not suffer in that way.” Further, he related about the eighteen who died in the fall of the tower of Siloam. He says” do you think they were more guilty than the others living in Jerusalem??” He clears up the matter and says, there is no way to distinguish that any group was more guilty than the others. He takes it further and says, “you too have seen these things and you are called to observe and repent or else suffer circumstances or other catastrophes worse than this. The question therefore comes as stated in John 9:1-3 “Who sinned?” That question was asked when Jesus healed the man born blind. “Who sinned?” It was thought during that era that blindness, the falling of the tower in Siloam or the massacre of the Galileans was because it was caused by somebody sinning.” Jesus clarifies by stating, “the man born blind was not caused by any sin in the womb or by any sin of his parents. Rather, God chose in His sovereignty to heal and restore according to His plan and preference. He looked to the purpose and beyond questioning who did what and who was the cause and took the leap forward to do something about it. He healed the blind man. He spoke to the heart of the matter of the fallen tower of Siloam and the massacre of the Galileans. He took compassion on those who were wondering about why? And what? Similarly, in the case of the building falling in Miami-Dade, people wonder why? Why here in the United States. It should not happen here! Well it did and it serves to let everyone know that bad things happen to good people. The example is before us and it will be for a while as those wonderful occupants of the building are being taken up among the debris. It doesn’t mean that anyone was the worse of any others. It doesn’t mean any of them deserved this horrible fate. Just as with the tower of Siloam, it is supposed the tower of Siloam- there was a cornerstone that collapsed with no explanation. Things often happen to alert us that God is in charge and wants all of us to find solace in Him for the salvation of our souls. Our souls are the most important salvage. Jesus loves everybody. We, too are to love one another and stop ripping each other apart. Think about if others were ripping you apart. Who would like that? Not anyone. Everyday we hear of people hurting the Chinese, hurting the Jewish people, hurting African Americans and others. Acknowledge there are spirits of “hate, jealousy, disobedience” rippling throughout the world. God is giving the nations a mid-term examination and will give a final examination. The coronavirus should be a lesson for us all throughout the world. Don’t hate your brother. Don’t hate your sister or cousin or unrelated person or anyone. You’re not going to get away with doing that; because God Almighty is watching and actually taking names each of whom will give individual accountability. He will turn. And in His turning, He will be just in scoring His evaluation of every nation (Matthew 25). His roll sheet has a checklist. His marks will be without prejudice. He only has two categories: “sheep and goats.” He will call it as He sees it. He is jealous. He says, “for I the LORD thy God am a jealous GOD.” Exodus 20:5) “you shall worship no other god for the LORD, Whose name is jealous, is a jealous GOD. (Exodus 34:14)” This can be especially linked to “natural adultery” and “spiritual adultery” worshipping objects, things, people, animals and putting anything before and above “The Almighty God.”
Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker is Founder-Superintendent of Today’s Fresh Start Charter School 4514 Crenshaw BL-323-293-9826 www.todaysfreshstart.org -articles are copyright © all rights reserved “Inquiring Minds Want To Know” www.askdrjeanetteparker.com -askdrjeanette tm [email protected] [email protected] Askdrjeanetteparker tm
