Repentance -part 2

For part one check out my post Repentance. This post is also a continuation of my Steps to Christ series.

God is speaking to the hearts of all humanity, causing us to experience an inexpressible craving for something that we do not possess. It is a longing that nothing in this world can satisfy.

To all of us, Jesus makes the invitation,

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
- Revelation 22:17 NKJV

If you feel your heart longing for something better than what this world has to offer, recognize it as the voice of God speaking to your soul.

We have a tendency to compare ourselves with those around us and feel pretty good about ourselves. Like Nicodemus, we think of ourselves as upright and see no fault with our moral character. This is dangerous because it causes us to feel no need to humble our hearts before God. This all changes when the light from Jesus shines in our hearts and we finally notice how impure we are. Only then are we able to realize the selfishness that motivates so many of our actions and how it defiles even our good actions. This is when we realize there is no hope of ever being good enough and that only the blood of Christ can cleanse us from our sin and renew our hearts making us more like Him.

The problem of pride, is that unlike other sins where we feel the need to repent and feel the need to be saved, a proud person feels no need of salvation and they close their hearts to Jesus and the infinite blessings He is willing to give them. Remember the story of the two men who went to pray recorded in Luke 18?

9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Luke 18:9-14 NKJV

When we are distant from God we have no sense of our defilement, no sense of our sinfulness. We only become aware of it as we behold God and realize the contrast between His selfless love and holiness and our selfish sinfulness. The self-righteous feel no need and therefore receive no help.

Making it Practical

When you see your sinfulness, do not wait to make yourself better. Do you think you are not good enough to come to Christ? What will you do? Make yourself better by your own efforts?

Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?
Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.
- Jeremiah 13:23 NKJV

Our only hope is in God. Do not wait for a stronger desire to change, do no wait for a better opportunity or better circumstances. We can do nothing of ourselves. We must come to Jesus just as we are!

But please, do not make the mistake of confusing God’s loving invitation to receive forgiveness and salvation through Jesus with the idea that God in his great love and mercy will save even those who reject His grace. Whenever you are tempted to believe that God is too good to cast out the unrepentant sinner just take a look at Calvary. Jesus had to die because there was no other way for us to escape the defiling power of sin. Sin is so terrible it cost the life of Jesus. That was the only way for us to be reconciled to a holy God. Jesus had to take upon Himself our guilt and He suffered in our place. That is what sin causes, that was the price. Without Jesus, we have no hope of overcoming sin and its power, and the penalty is death.

There are many who excuse themselves by pointing to Christians and claiming that they are no better than non-Christians. I have heard people say “But I behave just as well as any Christian. They are as flawed as I am.”

Be careful not to make the fault of others an excuse for your own neglect of duty.

The sins and shortcomings of others do not excuse anyone. Out example is the perfect life of Jesus. If these men and women can point to Christians and number their faults it means that they are aware of God’s high moral calling. This means they know how they ought to live, why don’t they then become an example to others? Why do they refuse to live to this standard? Why do they refuse to surrender their hearts to Jesus?

Do not put off the work of turning away from your sins and turning to Jesus. Jesus is there to save and purify you. Jesus is your only hope. Why delay? Why choose to live in sin? Sin, however small it may look, can only be enjoyed at the risk of infinite loss. The sin we refuse to surrender to Jesus will work out our destruction. What we do not give to Jesus will overcome us. We must not regard sin as a trivial thing.

Every time we reject Jesus, every time we choose to enjoy sin, we are effectively hardening our hearts against the calling of the Holy Spirit. We make our conscience numb, we become less inclined to listen to Jesus and the tender pleading of the Holy Spirit.

Every sinful indulgence strengthens the soul’s aversion to God.

Christ is ready to deliver you from sin. Why not take advantage of that right now?

If you wish to go deeper you can read Steps to Christ chapter 3