Luke 13: Have you Lost your Connection to God?

Many Christians feel like God has forsaken them, and that they have lost their connection to God. The Holy Spirit arranged the 13th chapter of Luke to show us some reasons why that may occur. Once again, the main point of the chapter is found in the final verses.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who continue to kill the prophets and to stone those who are sent to you! How often I have desired and yearned to gather your children together [around Me], as a hen [gathers] her young under her wings, but you would not! Behold, your house is forsaken (abandoned, left to you destitute of God’s help)! And I tell you, you will not see Me again until the time comes when you shall say, ‘Blessed (to be celebrated with praises) is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Luke 13:34-35 AMPC)

Jesus prophesied over Jerusalem, telling us what needs to happen before He returns. Those in Israel will accept Christians who come in His name. Besides this wonderful clue about His return, we also see that some people will lose God’s help. Yes, God WILL forsake people. Many people feel abandoned or forsaken by God, and the rest of this chapter reveals one of the reasons why God may not be in our lives.

As the chapter opens, Jesus is told that some people from His province, Galilee, were being sacrificed by the local Roman ruler, Pilate. His response reveals many aspects of the Kingdom of God.

And He answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:2-5 ESV)

There are several principles we can learn from these scriptures. The majority of Galileans were guilty of sin, which allowed that area to be placed into the hands of God’s enemy. The Romans were mixing the blood of people into sacrifices to other gods. Our God handing over His people to their enemies is a continuous theme throughout the Bible.

So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and He gave them into the power of plunderers who robbed them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could no longer stand before their foes. (Judges 2:14 ESV)

God gave Israel over to their enemies many times when they refused to turn from sin. That was happening when Jesus spoke these words: the Roman Empire had conquered Israel. It will happen to Christians when the AntiChrist takes over the world before Jesus returns.

Because Jesus points out that those being sacrificed are not “worse sinners,” it means that those who are killed when a country, or the world, is handed over to the enemy are not guilty of more sin than anyone else. The Lord gives a second example of a time when some perished for the sin of the area for two reasons. First, the Bible tells us that by two witnesses, a fact shall be established.

Secondly, the comment was meant to disparage Him. At this time, Galilee was considered the “not so great” area of Israel. Mentioning their sin was a way of saying, “Hey, this guy is from a sinful place. ” He mentions the deaths that happened in Jerusalem because of their sin, showing that even the majority of the capital of Israel was in sin, too.

After each example, Jesus states: “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” The Lord uses the intended slight to point out the need to repent, meaning to turn from sin. The types of sin they need to turn from are given throughout the rest of the chapter, beginning with a parable demonstrating not only a sin that separates us from God, but also Jesus’ role in this matter.

And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, 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 down.’” (Luke 13:6-9 ESV)

One of the reasons we become separated from God and feel forsaken is that we don’t bear fruit, which is a metaphor for working for God, producing something for God’s Kingdom. If we fail to be productive members of our new society, the Kingdom of Heaven, we can be kicked out of that kingdom. Many scriptures mention this, including this one:

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 7:19 ESV)

If we continue to ignore our new King and do not produce for His Kingdom, God will cast us into the fire, representing correction and even destruction. Jesus is merciful. He intercedes for us, asking for an additional time of grace. Our Lord will dig into our lives. Manure doesn’t smell good, but it feeds the plants. We receive spiritual nutrition through His word.

This is why it is so critical for each member of the Kingdom to be listening to and working for God. Jesus may want us to speak a word, give a testimony, or encourage a Christian to turn from sin and get reconnected to God. It is nice to see that Jesus will give us a final chance before we are cast out of God’s presence.

Some of you may have been told that the Bible says God will never forsake us. And yes, it does say that. God not forsaking us is mentioned in the commissioning of Joshua to lead God’s people into the Holy Land: so that promise is for a specific people when God says that to them because of the job they are doing.

When the Bible mentions God not leaving or forsaking a people group, it is always qualified with a stipulation like this:

And the Lord will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:5-6 ESV)

Before God says that He will never “leave or forsake” them, He tells them to do all that He commands them to do. When we apply God’s ways to our lives, we will become fruitful for His Kingdom, and He will never leave nor forsake us. Unless we are willing to learn and do what God tells us to do, He may leave or forsake us. Being removed from God because we have no fruit and are not working for His kingdom is reinforced in the prophecy of Revelation when Jesus speaks about a particular church:

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come on you. You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:2-5 AKJV)

One church is dying because they have no “perfect works” for God. What kind of works are discussed in the class about Revelation Churches at RebeccaLynnHardy.com. Overcoming the lack of works or fruits keeps your name from being blotted out of the “Book of Life” that Jesus holds, through which we escape the Lake of Fire: the final judgement of all of God’s creation.

This makes it clear that we become part of God’s Kingdom by taking Jesus as Lord. If we do not take our responsibilities to our new Lord seriously and begin learning about and working for God’s Kingdom, we begin dying, even though we are attached to the vine, which is Jesus. After some time, we are dead and are removed from the Kingdom.

Being unproductive for the Kingdom is the first way we can lose our connection to God. The Lord gives an example of one kind of unproductive behavior directly following the parable. Jesus heals a woman who was unable to straighten up and remained bent over. The leader of the synagogue didn’t respond well to this:

But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” (Luke 13:14-16 ESV)

A synagogue is like a Jewish church where God’s people gathered to receive teachings on the Sabbath when they were not close to the Temple in Jerusalem. The Sabbath is the day when God’s people are to rest from secular work and learn about God. Healing is a miracle from God, displaying His mercy and kindness.

There is no biblical reason not to do spiritual work on the Sabbath, after all, God’s priests all do His work on the Sabbath. The religious leader should have known this, which is why Jesus calls him a hypocrite. The ruler of the synagogue will work for his own gain: setting his own animals free so they can eat and drink. However, the same ruler rebukes the works of God on the Sabbath: setting a woman free of an affliction caused by an unclean spirit. This is an example of not having perfect works before God.

Jesus reinforces this teaching about bearing fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven by comparing Heaven to a mustard seed and yeast placed in dough.

1. A mustard seed is the smallest of seeds, but it produces one of the biggest plants that is able to shelter animals with its branches.

2. A small amount of yeast can spread through a lot of dough, filling it with air.

When we receive the Kingdom of Heaven through Jesus, it should be spreading to those around us and sheltering others in our lives. If we are not helping God’s kingdom to grow, we are not working for Him. This doesn’t mean we have to be a preacher, teacher, evangelist, apostle, or prophet. But we should be supporting those who do and be ready to talk about Jesus to people when the Holy Spirit asks us to. As Jesus continues to minister in other towns, He is asked an interesting question:

And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. (Luke 13:23-24 ESV)

“Strive” is the Greek word agōnizomai (ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee), which means to contend with adversaries, fight, to endeavour with strenuous zeal. We must put effort into going in the right direction because God has an enemy, Satan, who is trying to mislead and distract us. We must endeavor to learn and apply God’s ways so that we are fruitful and can enter through the narrow door. What happens if we fail to do that? Let’s keep reading.

When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ (Luke 13:25-27 ESV)

Because this is addressed to those who were in the streets where Jesus taught, and the subsequent verses at the end of the chapter are directed at Jerusalem, we know Jesus was speaking a prophecy directed to those who were alive and in Israel when He was ministering. However, God is always the same. If He is saying this to His people in Israel, He is also saying this to Christians who are grafted into His family through Jesus.

The phrase “workers of evil” is two Greek words:

• Workers: ergatēs (er-ga-tace)

one who does, a worker, perpetrator

• of evil: adikia (ad-ee-kee'-ah)

a deed violating law and justice, an act of unrighteousness of the heart or life

If you call yourself a Christian, a child of God, and you continue to violate God’s law, if you embrace that which is unrighteous in your heart or in your walk during your life, then this applies to you. In the King James Version, it says “workers of iniquity,” which means those who continue, repeatedly, to sin. If you do this, you are a worker of evil and are not on the narrow path and will not be allowed to enter by the narrow door. What happens if you don’t get into that door?

In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. (Luke 13:28-29 ESV)

“Weeping and gnashing of teeth” is a metaphor for pain, suffering, and frustration that will come upon the descendants of Israel who do not get in, even though they see their honored forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in Heaven with God. Many Israelites expect to get into Heaven just because they are their descendants, but when the time comes, they will be cast out.

“People from the east and west, north and south,” refers to the Gentiles who are outside of Israel. Many of those will enter in and be with God as well, but we still have to go through that narrow door just as Israel does!

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:9 ESV)

Jesus is the door we must enter through to get into Heaven. He must recognize us as one of His own to enter through Him. He will say to many, “I do not know you” because they have not turned from sin, leaned His ways, or produced fruit. Paul warns the Corinthians about this.

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:27-32 ESV)

Communion is what we are commanded to do so that we remember Jesus is our Lord. How many Christians have stopped taking communion? How many really consider what it means? If a Christian is on the verge of spiritually dying, one way Jesus may choose to save them is to take them to Heaven before they are fully dead.

This is why some “good” people die young. Jesus sees their entire future and knows if there will be an opportunity for them to turn back to Him or if they will continue in sin, die spiritually, and then go to Hell. Only God knows a person’s heart and all the possible futures. Jesus will give us every chance to “wake up” as Revelation puts it. The time is coming when many will be taken early. I hope you will remember that God has a reason!

If you want to begin taking communion or take it more often, we do this every Sabbath at our weekly meeting on Saturday. If you feel like you are losing your connection to God or that He is not really apparent in your life, the churches of Revelation give us much information about what He expects of us so that we remain connected to Him. I hope you will begin learning God’s ways today so that you are ready and can enter through the narrow door!