God's Last Words

“ONE MORE CHANCE, LORD”

Luke 13: 1-9, NRSV

Contemplate the word philosophy: the rational investigation of the truths and principles of living, being, behavior, conduct, and knowledge. If you have the right to be called a “philosopher,” than you may be labeled as wise in the ways of the world.

You would know the causes and effects of things; how and why things happen, and would have the ability to at least ask the significant questions regarding life, death, and human existence. We know that all of us ask these questions or should.

 

I use to know a guy when I was in the Navy that contemplated His "place in the celetrial universe" when he chipped paint.

Other significant questions we ask:

Why does the sun lighten our hair, but darken our skin?

Why can't women put on mascara with their mouth closed?

Why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"?

Why is "abbreviated" such a long word?

Why is a boxing ring square?

Why is it called lipstick if you can still move your lips?

Why is it considered necessary to nail down the lid of a coffin?

Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"?

Why is it that rain drops but snow falls?

Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

Why is the third hand on the watch called a second hand?

Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

Why is the word dictionary in the dictionary?

Why isn't there a special name for the tops of your feet?

If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP?

Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?

What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?

But one of the most important issues philosophers and especially we “amateur” philosophers ask is about God and/or the idea of human existence. 

Today’s scriptural passage should cause each of us to approach God’s word with some questions about what it means and what its claim on us is. 

At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  

He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them – do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did. 

Then he told this parable; A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I found none, Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ 

He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Jesus interaction with these folks give us more information regarding His thinking and journey toward the upcoming Easter experience and the price it is going to cost in order to provide the world a second chance at relationship with God. 

Ulrich Zwingli, founder of what became the “Reformed Church” felt that the whole notion of Christianity and life itself could be best described as a search for “ardent personal communion with God in Christ!” Nowhere is that more apparent than in these verses from Luke.                               

These verses contain an amazing vision of hope for each and every person in God’s creation because we see that God has given His creation more time to recognize Him as Creator and Lord of all.  

Instead of figuratively crumpling it all up in a ball and tossing it in the trash can God instead continues to work with His creation. 

If we realize the heartbreaking reality it must be for God to be rejected by so many people we may get just a small glimpse of the greatness of God’s Grace. Imagine, as God, knowing that, even though He gave all, not all will respond, how sad and frustrating it all must be. 

Think of this: an all powerful God, who has done everything possible to show His love and desires for intimate relationship, has rendered Himself powerless to “force” that love on anyone.

God has one relationship rule. And it is a rule that is natural to you and I humans, but not for God. Love must be freely given and freely received. We are to love unconditionally as He loves us.  

But that doesn’t mean we are forced to accept that love. God is persistent, through the Holy Spirit, in reminding us of His love, but God is not a stalker. But His presence is everywhere so it’s hard not to see Him.

 

I think that those who claim to be atheists, with their constant desire for "separation" of church and state are doing nothing more than trying to swear out protection orders against God. 

Some people have asked me why I continue in the ministry with such apparent lack of success. Our attendance is decreasing, our funds are decreasing, people lack enthusiasm for Bible Study, attending services, and it seems at times as if no one wants to have the church involved in their lives. 

I tell them this: “I ask myself why I think I am better than Jesus? After all, he was so singularly unsuccessful with so many people. Then I remind myself that following Jesus has nothing to do with success as the world values it and everything to do with love.”  

It is Jesus’ love for us that makes all the difference and His willingness to sacrifice for us that matters. 

A little girl in England, Josie Caven, was born totally deaf.

She felt isolated as a child because of her inability to hear, but that changed after she received a cochlear implant during the Christmas season. At the age of twelve, she heard clearly for the first time. The first sound she heard was the song “Jingle Bells” coming from the radio. 

Was Josie’s hearing restored? Yes — completely. Did she hear well immediately? Not exactly. Her mother said, “She is having to learn what each new sound is and what it means. She will ask, ‘Was that a door closing?’ and has realized for the first time that the light in her room hums when it is switched on.

She even knows what her name sounds like now, because before she could not hear the soft s sound in the middle of the word. Seeing her face light up as she hears everything around her is all I could have wished for this Christmas.” 

Josie’s hearing was restored, but that restoration introduced her to the daily adventure of learning to distinguish each new sound in the hearing world.  

It’s the already and the not yet — a phrase that aptly describes the perspective of believers in Christ who have not yet experienced the fullness of redemption that will one day be realized in heaven.

Friends this is what regeneration in Christ’s love is like. The trials and tribulations and struggles of life is the fertilizer that grows us closer to Jesus and God the Father, and helps us bear the fruit of His Kingdom. Amen.