Except Ye Repent

Luke 13:5 — I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

There are those who believe that sudden disasters are the result of sin in those who are involved in them. Accidents and calamities are not necessarily punishments resulting from sin that has been committed. Evils affect both good and bad, as we can see in the life of Job. Those who witness the sad fate of others have no right to exalt themselves over them on the ground of any moral or spiritual superiority. Instead of judging others, we ought to look into ourselves and repent.

Christ asked the question: “Suppose ye that these Galileans, who were slain as they were sacrificing, were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay” (Luke 13:2–3).

Whether we accept it or reject it, it is not safe for us to judge anyone’s sins by their sufferings in this world; for many are thrown into the furnace of affliction not because they are evil, but because of their good. We must not be hasty to criticise those that are afflicted, as Job’s friends did to him.

Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish (Luke 13:3–5). This indicates that we are all recipients of time and chance, but except we repent we shall also perish.

We are great sinners as much as those who are afflicted, and must use the period of grace to repent. The afflictions and calamities of others are loud appeals to us to repent. Repentance is a way to escape eternal damnation but not the calamities of this life — sometimes they are a furnace to purify and make us pure gold.

If we repent not, we shall perish eternally, as they perished out of this world. A lesson for all to learn. Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Christ admonished us to repent because otherwise we shall perish. He has given us a choice of life or death, good and evil, blessing or curse — and He tells us, except ye repent ye shall perish.