April 3, 2025 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Luke - Repent or Perish
Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Repent? Often that word brings images of a man walking about with a sandwich board that says repent, the end is near. While the Lord is still speaking on the end times with His disciples the word repent and perish are important.
God tells all mankind that they must repent and trust Christ as their saviour or they will perish.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
He is pointing out another issue as well. In this life bad things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. Pilot mingled the blood of the Galiliaeans and the wall of Siloam fell on eighteen people destroying their lives.
The Galilaeans were not sinners above others; the eighteen people were not sinners above everyone else, they were all sinners. You and I are sinners, everyone is a sinner and in need of the Saviour. There are two classes of people on earth, sinners and sinners saved by the grace of God.
The Lord Jesus used a phrase that should concern all men.
Luke13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
What was so different about these men that would cause the Lord to say such a thing? Nothing! All of these people died without hope. The way they died was not spite or punishment from God. The way they died was simply brutal force of the wicked Pilot and accidental happenstance as such.
The point is this, all men die. You will one day die, I will one day die if the Lord does not return for me before then.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
The young, the old the rich the poor, the famous and infamous, the normal and abnormal, the rulers and paupers all die. Every day we read about actors and politicians and friends and enemies, and loved ones and not so loved ones dying. All men die.
The issue upon death is whether one has repented or not. After one dies they cannot change a thing. You enter into eternity with the decision or non-decision you made in this life. The Galilean’s died and the eighteen men died without repentance, they died without hope; that is the point the Lord was making while he was talking about end times.
Jesus said in Luke 13:5 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
He was not talking about brutality or accidental death, and people being less sinful or more sinful than others; He was talking about those with no hope at the time of death.
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
The gospel is that Jesus died for you to save your soul. Would you repent from trusting self and turn to Jesus?
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
