02.15.02 

There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 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 eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.’ - Luke 13:1-5.  

Accidents happen even to the President of the United States (George W. Bush), and he was just eating a pretzel. President Bush was eating a pretzel when he choked on it, which resulted in a blocked air passage. He passed out, fell forward bruising his cheek, and biting his lip. As he was in the Whitehouse at the time, he received immediate aid from secret service personnel and his personal physician. There were no lasting effects from this accident, which occurred in January 2002.   Accidents happen to all of us. I’m sure Vania Lucshesi would agree with that. Vania was just brushing her teeth when she tripped, and swallowed her full-size toothbrush. Thankfully, the doctors at the University Hospital in Cardiff, Wales were successful in removing the toothbrush. So, just remember, not only must you be careful while eating pretzels, but also while brushing your teeth.  

We have heard it said, and have seen it with our own eyes, that bad things do happen even to “good” people. However, something we do not often think about is that good things sometimes happen to “bad” people. The words “bad” and “good” when used for people are a subjective judgment on our part, because the Bible says in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Jesus says that we should be like our Father in heaven who “…makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45).”  

The world we live in is not a perfect world. All of creation was corrupted because of the sin of Adam and Eve. Because creation was corrupted, bad things happen on planet Earth. In addition, each person has “free will.” Each individual is able to make decisions independent of God, and of other people. Because those decisions are sometimes poor decisions, they often result in additional bad things happening. In Ecclesiastes 7:17 we are told, “Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: why should you die before your time?” If we are in a metal fishing boat soaking wet during a lightning storm, and stand up waving a metal pole; we should not be surprised when lightning strikes, and we die before our time.  

More important than understanding why accidents happen as Jesus points out, is our spiritual condition (Luke 13:1-5). If we do not turn from sin (repent) and turn to God through receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior then we will perish spiritually.  

Do you know Jesus as your Savior?