Luke and the Lost

God created a perfect, beautiful world filled with flowers, meadows, fruit bearing trees, rivers flowing over tumbling falls. It was a world of peace where all animals He created romped and played in the bright sunshine. He wanted to share what He created. So, God bent down to make a man. From the man He made a woman. They have an immediate, loving relationship, for God loved them and they loved Him back.

Then corruption enters the peaceful world as the fallen angel appears to them in the form of a serpent and tempts them to do exactly what God has told them not to do with words of “you will be just like God”. Being like God is exactly why this tempter fell from heaven…HE wanted to BE God!

Why do our thoughts go back to the beginning of creation for this next passage in Luke? Because God’s people are still trying to BE Him! They will do anything, even murder, to get what THEY want so they may retain a false sense of self-centered power. Read on…as Jesus tells a story of the demise of those who try to be God.

Luke 20, The Message
The Story of Corrupt Farmhands
9-12 Jesus told another story to the people: “A man planted a vineyard. He handed it over to farmhands and went off on a trip. He was gone a long time. In time he sent a servant back to the farmhands to collect the profits, but they beat him up and sent him off empty-handed. He decided to try again and sent another servant. That one they beat black-and-blue, and sent him off empty-handed. He tried a third time. They worked that servant over from head to foot and dumped him in the street.

13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘I know what I’ll do: I’ll send my beloved son. They’re bound to respect my son.’

14-15 “But when the farmhands saw him coming, they quickly put their heads together. ‘This is our chance—this is the heir! Let’s kill him and have it all to ourselves.’ They killed him and threw him over the fence.

15-16 “What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? Right. He’ll come and clean house. Then he’ll assign the care of the vineyard to others.”

Those who were listening said, “Oh, no! He’d never do that!”

17-18 But Jesus didn’t back down. “Why, then, do you think this was written:

That stone the masons threw out—
It’s now the cornerstone!?

“Anyone falling over that stone will break every bone in his body; if the stone falls on anyone, it will be a total smashup.”

19 The religion scholars and high priests wanted to lynch him on the spot, but they were intimidated by public opinion. They knew the story was about them.

At least they knew the story was about them. The question for evaluation today is this: Is the story about us? Are we doing everything in our false sense of self-centered power on earth to be God, to lead others with “do what I do, be like me”, versus “don’t follow me, follow God!”? Are we killing prophets of Truth because they might get in our way of “doing church” as we have always done it…to make ourselves feel important? Ouch, I know this might hurt but we must take stock of ourselves (as Paul says, Romans 12:3) and give an honest account for our thoughts and actions. We have to stay alert to temptations for power and self indulgence as His people.

Jesus will return to claim His own. He will come back to clean house! WHO is the cornerstone of our life today, right now, of purpose and meaning? Who directs our path. Who does our heart completely belong to in this life, in this world of corruption and greed? Jesus WILL come back. What will He find us being and doing?

Dear Heavenly Father, Wow, Your Word surely has our attention this morning giving us deep, humbling words of warning for our day to day lives. I repent as I take stock of my own life. May we walk and talk in the “garden” this morning and meditate on Your Word as You speak to us all day long. YOU are God and we are not. Continue to be with us…In Jesus Name, Amen, I believe.