luck and repentance

Good morning brothers and sisters,
It's often said that Presbyterians don't believe in luck because we look to Calvin for our theological foundation and Calvin believed strongly in God's control over every aspect of the world. At the same time, this passage seems to me to open the door to luck. Jesus rejects the idea that bad things necessarily happen to bad people. At the same time Jesus says we all need to repent; when bad things happen to anyone it's a reminder that we might not have tomorrow to repent, so we shouldn't wait.

The lesson of the tree shows the same thing. There is some patience to allow us to bear fruit and to encourage us with tending and care. But whether today or next year eventually a day will come when we will be cut down if we don't bear fruit. Laurelton is a congregation with many gifts and many opportunities. God calls each of us to turn back to him and to bear fruit in ministry for others. Don't wait to change your life because we never know when it will be too late and the opportunity will be gone.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 13:1-9
At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

6Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ 8He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”