“I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:5
Some people came to Jesus talking about how some Galileans who died a horrible death at the hands of Pilate. They were implying that they were worse sinners than the rest of the Galileans because of the way they suffered.
Jesus replies that they were not any worse than any other Galilean. He also brings up the death of some people at the tower of Siloam. Both times He tells the people that they need to repent or they will also perish.
In life it is very easy to compare oneself to another person. People like to point out how good they are compared to someone else, or how bad another person is compared to themselves.
In the eyes of the world, different crimes are at different levels. Many people tell a lie and do not think anything bad of it, unless it is done to them. Those same people, however, would never kill someone. All of them would severely punish a person who killed someone.
A person who stole $10,000 would get a shorter prison term, than the person who killed someone. The person who killed is more deserving of punishment than the other.
Yet, in the eyes of God, all sin is punishable by death. Every sin, no matter how large or small, separates a person from God and brings on the judgment of death. No one is any better or worse than another. Everyone has a death sentence on their life because of sin.
With this, Jesus said that everyone must repent or perish. You, also, must turn away from your sins. You must seek forgiveness of your sins.
When you repent of your sins, Jesus will forgive you and give you life. He will remove the death sentence on your life.
Do not compare yourself to other people. Compare yourself to Jesus alone. Do you mirror Him? Are you perfect like Him? Put on His righteousness. Accept His forgiveness. Live like Jesus did. This way you will not perish but have eternal, abundant life.
I pray today that you will repent of all sin; that you will compare yourself to only Jesus; that you will seek God; that you will live your life for God; and that God will change you into the person you are meant to be.
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