It's not that you're better than the people who the tower fell on or you're better than the people who were killed by pilot soldier or the people who died in a calamity or got cancer or heart disease or whatever it is.

You're not any better. You're any different. You're a sinner. You deserve to die. You're living on borrowed time.

Which takes me to the last point.

Borrowed time is not permanent. Welcome to Grace to you with John MacArthur. I'm your host Phil Johnson. There's a story of a New York City window washer who fell 47 floors, and amazingly,

he survived.

After 16 operations over two years, he fully recovered. In light of such a miraculous survival story, how

should that man live his life? How would you live if you had such a second chance

at life, specifically in your service to your church or to your family or at work.

Well, today, John MacArthur, Chancellor of the Masters University and Seminary, will remind you that everyone

lives on that sort of borrowed time, whether they want to accept it or not.

So turn with us to Luke 13 as John continues his study, stories with purpose.

In the months toward the end, his study, stories with purpose.

In the months toward the end of his ministry, and these final words are powerful and important,

not only for the hearers when he said them but for all of us who read them.

Luke 13, let's begin at verse 6.

And he began telling this parable, A certain man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard.

And he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.

And he said to the vineyard keeper, behold for three years I have come

looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down. Why should it even use up the ground? And he answered and said to him,

let it alone, sir, for this year two, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer. And if it bears fruit next year,

fine. But if not, cut it down.

It is not unusual to hear people talk about living on borrowed time.

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