| “Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?” (Luke 13:2). |
| In today’s verse, the Lord Jesus was talking to the people around Him when He was here on the earth. We could substitute other people for the word “Galilaeans.” We could say, “Do you think that those on the Titanic were worse sinners than any others, because they suffered in this way?” Jesus went on to say in the next verse, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise [in the same way] perish” (Luke 13:3). God warns us sometimes by making an example of others, in order to alert us to the danger of neglecting our souls’ salvation. |
| As the Titanic was preparing to load and sail, my mother’s family were busy packing their cases and belongings to sail from England to North America as well. The Lord allowed that they booked a passage on another ship a few weeks later. At that time my mother was a little girl of two years of age, and she had six older brothers and sisters. They would have travelled 3rd class, and would not have been the ones in the lifeboats! God had His eye on that family and protected them from what would have been almost certain death. They were saved for a purpose. It touches my heart when I think of this, and makes me feel responsible to please the Lord Jesus and tell others about Him. |
| No, God does not like to punish the people that He made, for He loves them. But sometimes they get very proud and boastful, and forget about Him, while living their lives for their own pleasure. Then He may allow a disaster that speaks to the whole world, as everyone is devastated when they hear of a terrible tragedy. Today we see earthquakes and hurricanes, flooding, droughts, and wars. We should all be listening, and if we know the Lord Jesus, then we can use all these things to tell others about Him — the One who loves them and came to die for them. |
