By: Dale Weckbacher
Luke 13:3-4
I tell you, no; but
unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
NKJV
The Greek word translated repent in Luke 13:3 is the word metanoeo,
which means to change one’s mind for better.
(1) The context of this passage is a conversation
Jesus is having with people about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled
with their sacrifices. Luke 13:2 lets us
know that those Jesus was speaking with believed the suffering Galileans were
worse sinners because of what they had suffered.
Luke 13:4 mentions 18 individuals that perished with the
fall of the Tower of Siloam. Although
there is no definitive record of this tragic event, it was apparently
significant to those whom Jesus was speaking to and was something Jesus was
using as an illustration. The point
Jesus is making here is that no person is a worse sinner than another person
for all have sinned (Romans 3:23). Therefore,
in order not to perish, all individuals must repent or have a change of mind
for the better, which in this instance means deciding to accept Christ’s
sacrifice for their sins.
If you are reading this and have not changed the course of
your life from one headed to perishing, I invite you to do so now by praying
with me,
Dear Lord Jesus, I
know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death
(Romans 6:23). I ask you to forgive me
of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9). I believe you died, was buried, and
resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.
If you just prayed with me, congratulations, you have just
changed the course of your life from one of sure destruction to one leading to
eternal life (John 3:16). This does not
mean your life will now be free from struggle or even sin but that your final
destination is now eternity in the presence of God and not eternal damnation
for your sins.
The tragedy of the Titanic has been the subject of numerous
books and movies. In each of these
accounts we observe a tragedy that could have been avoided by a change of
course. Unfortunately, however, the captain
of the ship ignored the numerous warnings he received and after colliding with
the iceberg, their fate was sadly sealed.
For the last 100 years, the United States has been on a
slide towards progressive socialism.
While some may view this as something beneficial to the country, history
has proven this structure of government policy is a course to failure. As an example of this failure one must only
turn to California where according to Mychal Massie
California has no remedy for replacing the tax dollars
and/or the viable, job-producing businesses being driven out due to onerous
government/political restrictions and an unrelenting tax burden. Nor does California have a remedy to provide
for the millions of illegal aliens squatting within the state. (2)
In addition to the example of California within the United
States, we are also witnessing the failure of socialism on a national level in
Venezuela. One entrepreneur doing
business in Venezuela now faces potential jail time for of all things the
inability to provide toilet paper for his employees. Sadly, his inability to provide toilet paper
is not even his fault but is the result of massive shortages nationwide of
basic products like toilet paper as socialism once again demonstrates it is a
failed policy. (3)
(4)
Two of the remaining three viable presidential candidates in
this year’s election campaign however, believe socialism is the best path for
the United States to follow. For Bernie
Sanders, this belief means dodging questions about socialism’s failure in
Venezuela. (5) Chris Matthews asked Hillary Clinton if she
was a socialist and said she was not.
However, when asked by Mr. Matthews about the difference between a
democrat and socialist, she professed to being a progressive Democrat who likes
to get things done. Wanting to get
things done is something all candidates promise to do and in my opinion her answer is a
dodge of the question. (6)
In the hotly contested democrat primary election professed
socialist Bernie Sanders is pushing Hillary Clinton towards socialism (7) However, when we look at the history of
Hillary Clinton and her ties to Saul Alinsky, we can conclude that she has
always been a socialist. (8) It is just that now with her running against
a true socialist, she has been able to come out from behind the curtain of
progressivism.
The United States finds itself on a collision course with
the iceberg of socialism and with the election of either Hillary Clinton or
Bernie Sanders will continue on this course.
However, we have an opportunity in this election to change course by
electing Donald Trump as our next President.
Many of us may not agree with all of Donald Trump’s policies, but his
economic policies represent a change of course that will avoid a collision with
the iceberg of socialism.
Let us not as voters be like the captain of the Titanic and
ignore the warnings of California and Venezuela and instead vote for a change
of course this election.
1. Blue Letter Bible. Strongs G3340. www.blueletterbible.org.
[Online] Blue Letter Bible. [Cited: May 28, 2016.]
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?t=kjv&strongs=g3340.
2. Massie, Mychal.
Liberal Socialism: A Quantifiable Record of Failure. www.wnd.com. [Online]
WND, December 9, 2013. [Cited: May 28, 2016.]
www.wnd.com/2013/12/liberal-socialism-a-quantifiable-record-of-failure.
3. Toro, Moises
NaiTorom and Franscisco. Venezuela is Falling Apart. www.theatlantic.com.
[Online] The Atlantic, May 12, 2016. [Cited: May 28, 2016.]
www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/05/venezuela-is-falling-apart/481755/.
4. Hinderaker, John.
Socialism Crumbles in Venezuela, but Democrats Think it's a Great Idea. www.powerlineblog.com.
[Online] Powerline, August 6, 2015. [Cited: May 28, 2016.]
www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2015/08/socialism-crumbles-in-venezuela-but-democrats-think-its-a-great-idea.php.
5. Lifson, Thomas.
Bernie Sanders Refuses to Answer Questions About Socialism's Failure in
Venezuela. www.americanthinker.com. [Online] American Thinker, May 27, 2016.
[Cited: May 28, 2016.]
www.americanthinker.com/blog/2016/05/bernie_sanders_refuses_to_answer_questions_about_socialisms_failure_in_venezuela.html.
6. Hunter, Derek.
Hillary Can't Explain the Difference Between a Democrat and a Socialist
(Video). dailycaller.com. [Online] The Daily Caller, January 5, 2016.
[Cited: May 28, 2016.]
dailycaller.com/2016/01/05/hillary-cant-explain-the-difference-between-a-democrat-and-a-socialist-video/.
7. McCann, Steve.
No More Room for Compromise With the Socialist Agenda of the Democrats. www.americanthinker.com.
[Online] American Thinker, February 8, 2016. [Cited: May 28, 2016.]
www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/02/no_more_room_for_compromise_with_the_socialist_agenda_of_the_democrats.html.
8. Kosar.
Breaking: Newly Discovered Letters Between Hillary Clinton & Saul Alinsky
(Marxist Community Organizer). www.the politicalinsider.com. [Online]
Political Insider. [Cited: May 28, 2016.]
No comments:
Post a Comment