Our God of Love (Luke 13:1-9)
Rev. David French
03/20/22
We live in a dangerous world. Every day the news gives us a glimpse of the evil in the world. From disaster caused by man or nature, humanity lives in and with the real time effects of sin.
In this morningâs gospel, we heard about some people who came to Jesus in the same situation, that is, struggling to understand the evil in the world. We read, âThere were some present at that very time who told [Jesus] about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrificesâ (Luke 13:1).
These people came to Jesus wanting to know why God allows such evil in the world. But instead of offering comfort, Jesus highlights other examples of deadly disasters from the past finally saying, âNo, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perishâ (Luke 13:2â5). That is, Jesus was telling them, sooner or later, everyone will come to the end of his or her time in this world. Â
It might be sudden like these for people, or it might come after a long life. Either way, if you come to the end of your time without saving faith, you will perish eternally. The point is, through the faith that trusts in Godâs promises of forgiveness, you are prepared for whatever comes your way.
The truth is, many people wonder why God allows evil in the world. In fact, many believe that if God was truly almighty and loving, there would be no evil at all. That if God is almighty, then evil in the world suggests that He doesnât care. But, are those the only options?
First, we need to understand the starting point. The Scriptures clearly state that âGod saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.â We quickly learn, however, that our first parents, Adam and Eve, soon fall into sin by disobeying God. That sin has been passed down generation after generation to all who are born of flesh.
As God reveals through St. Paul, âSin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinnedâ (Romans 5:12). Godâs Word also teaches that because of Adam and Eveâs sin the earth was also cursed. Words that teach even the disasters of nature are the result of Adamâs rebellion.Â
Now, any reasonable person can see that itâs not God but the creatures God created who are the source of evil ⊠first the fallen angels, and then Adam and Eve. But that only leads us to ask another question. Why did God create beings who can be so evil? Why didnât He just make us so that we couldnât sin?
The answer to that question is love. The Triune God, who is love, created us with the ability to enjoy the blessings of love as well. The thing about love is it simply canât exist without a free will. For genuine love to exist, there must be the possibility of rejection.Â
Suppose God had created us without any choice but to do what He commanded. Wouldnât we, at that point, be more like computers running programs? A clever programmer could write a code for us that would enable us to give the appearance of love ⊠the appearance that we really care for others.Â
Of course, we wouldnât really love anyone. We would just be executing code. The love would not be real. We would simply be executing a programed command, and whatever you call it, it would not be love.Â
Mercifully, God didnât create soulless robots. He created human beings in His own image and likeness. That means He created us with the ability to love, which means He created us with free will, a free will that bears the stain of sin.Â
You see, a God of love is consistent with the existence of evil because we canât know love apart from freedom, and thatâs exactly what the Bible teaches. God created us with the freedom to love, but we used that freedom to do evil instead. And so, the evil in the world does not indicate that God doesnât love us. It shows us that the human race has rejected Godâs love and chosen evil instead.
So, does that mean the human race is doomed because weâve used our freedom to sin instead of to love? No, of course not. This is where we see what true love really is, because itâs here where the God of love sends His Son to pay the price for evil choices of His creatures. Why? The apostle Paul writes, âGod shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for usâ (Romans 5:8).
You see, if not restrained by the law written on our hearts the natural consequences of our evil would have destroyed the human race long ago. Iâm sure that right now itâs not hard for you to see how one person could put us on the path of what could become a global disaster. Our own evil would have, and no doubt at another time God has chosen, will bring about our own extinction.Â
But God is still a God of love, and since the day of His Sonâs crucifixion has been working to bring to completion His plan for the salvation of His fallen and yet still beloved creatures. And as Jesus says in the gospel of Matthew, âIf those days shad not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.â And that can only happen because Christ has already taken our place under the judgment of the law.Â
Jesus, true God and true man, bore the eternal consequences of our sin as He hung on the cross and gave up His spirit. The apostle Peter reminds us, âYou were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spotâ (1 Peter 1:18â19).
You see, our heavenly Father not only poured out His wrath for sin on Jesus, He has also assured His fallen creatures that all who believe in Christ for the forgiveness of their sin will be with Him eternally in His kingdom of glory. A promise made more certain when, on the third day, Jesus rose again: â⊠the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleepâ (1 Corinthians 15:20).
But again, we have a God of love, and through His Son, Heâs also transformed the evil consequences of this world. In the parable of the fig tree, the vinedresser pleaded with the landowner, âSir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it downâ (Luke 13:8â9). The evil things of this world, like âdigging around the root and applying manure,â teach us to be disciplined, and so, make us stronger. God transforms them from curses into gifts for our blessing.
Just as the gardener worked with the tree in the parable, God the Holy Spirit also works with us. He overcomes the evil in this world and uses it to strengthen us. He works to produce repentance and the faith that trust His Word of forgiveness that Jesus was earning for us as He suffered and died for all sinners. Itâs true, Jesus allowed all those bad things, that we earned with our lives, to happen to Him so that He could offer all the good things He earned with His life to all.
Itâs true, we still have our free will and the abuse it brings, and thatâs not going to change until Christ returns. And so, we cling to His cross knowing that in His hands even evil, though it may be painful, or as Peter writes, âthough you may have had to suffer for a while âŠ,â is and will always be used by our God of love to bring about good for His children. Â
In His name, Amen.