“Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is Near.”
Someone once said, “We are not worthy of being called Christians if we persist in our sin while proclaiming repentance.” Repentance must be deeper than our words. It must affect our thoughts and our actions: the fruit of our lives. Repentance causes change because it is change. It is the changing of the direction of our lives and not simply a sense of regret over our past. We can feel regret without putting forth the effort to change. We can even claim to have changed and yet still cling to those familiar sins in the secret parts of our heart and mind. True repentance leads us closer to the Lord and further from this world. Honest repentance will leave our lives noticeably different than they once were.
Jeremiah 15:19 says, “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me.” Sin separates us from God and distorts the reflection of God that the world sees through our lives. Sin is literally going in the opposite direction of God. To repent is to turn around, change directions, and return to the Lord. That’s why God restores us. God will not bless sin, but when we actively seek His way, He blesses our struggle. Listen to the command God gave His people through the prophet Ezekiel. “Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and new spirit.” (Ezekiel 18:30-31) Verses like this one offer us so much hope. When we turn from the direction of sin, God offers us a new heart and a new spirit. We don’t have to be ruled by the things that once controlled our lives. Who we were is not who will become.
Each day we draw closer and closer to God’s judgment. Our societies are actively attempting to take God out of our culture, but we must fight against this dark trend. God is the only answer to the problems of this world. What our world needs to hear today is John’s call for repentance. “Repent” may not be a message people want to hear, but it is a message we all need to hear. A good friend will not turn a blind eye to their friend’s sin. Because we love the people of this world, we have a duty to warn them of the path they are on. Galatians 6:1 tells us, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.” Also, James 5:19-20 says, “My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and some one brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save the soul from death and will cover a multitude of sin.” Repentance, redemption, and restoration are the building blocks of Christianity. Let us not shy away from calling sin a sin and a lie a lie. Let us be gentle as we call our brothers and sisters back from the edge of temptation. And, let our own repentance be sincere and deeper than our words only.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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