Will You Repent?

Will you repent?

Repentance has to begin with asking God to search our hearts (Psalm 139:23, 24). It is when you allow the Holy Spirit to turn the spotlights on, that he will show you the secrets of your heart—sins of pride and self-righteousness and many more. David never allowed God to search his heart after he had sinned. God had to send Prophet Nathan with a story that gripped David’s heart and made him realize his sin (2 Samuel 12:1—13). David was a true believer and a man after God’s own heart, but he needed to repent. Psalm 51 records his great cry of penitence and repentance (Reading Psalm 32 and 38 will also be helpful).

Will you repent?

Repentance has to do with a turning back. The prodigal son after coming back to his senses (Luke 15:17), with words of repentance, started walking back towards his father’s home ready to confess his sins (see also Hosea 14:1, 2). David takes words of repentance with him and cries out to God to have mercy on him (Psalm 51:1).

Will you repent?

Repentance has to do with confession and cleansing. If we say we have no sin we are deceiving ourselves says God’s Word (1 John 1:8). Moreover, we are making God out to be a liar (1 John 1:10). But if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). By the word confess most of us understand it as saying “Sorry.” But the Biblical understanding of the word is different. It is agreeing with God that what we have thought, spoken, or done is sin and wrong and evil in his eyes. And, in the blood of Jesus, we have a cleansing fountain that can wash away all our sins (1 John 1:8, Zechariah 13:1). David’s prayer echoes this need for cleansing (Psalm 51:2, 7, 10).

Will you repent?

Repentance has to do with changed action. Zacchaeus said he will pay fourfold if he had cheated anyone (Luke 19:8). John the Baptist asked us to produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8). The Ninevites as a nation humbled themselves before God and judgement of God was averted (see Jonah Chapter 3). If we say we have repented and repeat the same wrong actions again and again, can it be true repentance? We can use terms like “weakness” or “God will forgive” to excuse our sinful living (see 2 Peter 2: 22). But God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows (Galatians 6:7, 8).

Will you repent?

Repentance will finally lead to restoration of a right relationship with God and restoration of joy (Psalm 51:12). We see that happening in the story of the prodigal son, and in the story of David’s repentance. So, God is calling you to repent. It is not a one-time act alone. It is a constant attitude and a daily attitude that we need in life. That is why Paul says, “count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11).” Look to Jesus, the crucified one, always, and allow God to search your heart in the light of that judgement and God’s wrath against sin that fell on Jesus on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Will you repent?

Remember Jesus warned us in the incident of the tower of Siloam that fell on eighteen people killing them. He said, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish (Luke 13:5). John the Baptist said, “the axe is already at the root of the trees (Matthew 3:10). Peter said, “For it is time for judgement to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God (1 Peter 4:17)?”.

Will you repent?

This is a time when we have to preach the message of God’s wrath and judgement to come (Revelation 6: 16, 17). It is going to be terrible and universal and sudden (Matthew 24:36—41). And many who feel safe in churches worldwide will certainly face judgement (Romans 2:1–5). The message to repent has to be preached. Will you proclaim it?

Read more posts in Living Streams

Sponsored Links for Christmas