Monday, July 23, 2012

Repentance


Some people seem to be afraid of using the word repentance in public. This word is treated like it is a private matter for each person as if there were Hippaa laws in play. Preachers shouldn’t preach on it, teachers shouldn’t teach on it, and by no means should anyone ever bring it up one on one.

That notion baffles me. After all, the first recorded words of John the Baptist are, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:2).” One chapter later, we read the first recorded words in the ministry of Jesus (following His baptism and temptation by Satan), “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17).”

These verses make it clear: there is no citizenship in the kingdom of heaven without repentance.

Repentance means that you do a 180 degree turn in your life. Sometimes we think we have repented simply because we stopped doing sinful things, but we must also change course and turn to Christ.

Repentance is not just about applying the brakes and stopping our sin, but it is about making a U-turn and accelerating towards Christ likeness.

Are you headed for the kingdom of heaven? If not, make a U-turn today.  


No comments:

Post a Comment