Have you ever regretted saying words or making a wrong choice in life? If so, then the first Wonderfully Weird Command of Christ, “Repent,” makes sense. We read Jesus’ initial command in Matthew 4:7; he said, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” When Jesus shared these words, he meant for a person to feel regret about building their kingdom here on earth without realizing God’s Kingdom. When the command “Repent” is honored, a lifestyle of repentance is genuine.
Repentance reflects the idea of a person turning life around in a whole new way, and true repentance involves a total life change in heart, mind, and soul. Jesus is the model of the lifestyle that lives out the purpose of God on earth. God’s purpose is to bring to earth the Life and Presence of heaven just as it was in the beginning. When Christ came into the world, his goal was to redeem humanity’s brokenness caused by Adam and Eve’s decision to take life into their hands.
Most understand humans are born with their back towards God, and repentance is necessary to begin rebuilding a life worth living. When a person freely decides to “Repent,” humility is the outcome. Humility is a humble attitude recognizing I am nothing without God. It’s a humble attitude needed to establish the fear of the LORD in a person’s reality. It’s humility and the fear of the LORD that gives an awareness that continually allows a person to live in God’s purpose; Proverbs 22:4, “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life.”
People ask, “When and how do I ‘repent’?” 2 Corinthians 6:2, “. . . Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” As shared, repentance is a lifestyle; however, for life to begin, a decision has to be made to change one’s beliefs outwardly to connect ultimately with God. Connection with God is understood and attained through a simple prayer; some refer to it as a “Salvation Prayer.” For salvation, humbly pray these modest words: “God, you are ‘Good,’ and I am a mess (sinful) in my feelings, thoughts, and actions towards a Life that comes through Your purpose. I have controlled my life long enough, and right now, I ‘REPENT’ and cry out for mercy and give myself wholly to You. I humbly bow to Jesus as Life’s model to redeem Your reality in my life to rebuild Goodness. In Jesus’ good name. Amen!”
The choice to repent is yours and only yours, and postponing repentance is only acknowledging your love belongs to someone or something else more than God. Repent today, and I promise if you meaningfully do so, in the long run, your words will be helpful, not regretted, and the choice to give it all to God will be the best choice you ever made. A making that comes at the Hand of God.
With a full heart,
Pastor Drake