The Gift of Repentance
Most people probably wouldn’t think of repentance as a gift but rather as a burden. Because it’s hard to admit that we are in need, or that we have done something wrong, or worse yet have to acknowledge that at our core we are simply just broken. We hate this about ourselves. I can say truly that I hate being broken, and in fact for much of my walk with Jesus I tossed my sin at Jesus and said flippantly, “will you please just fix this so I can get it right finally?!” I knew I needed Jesus to justify me, but what I really wanted was to be fixed so that I didn't need Him anymore. I wanted to become even more self-reliant. I wanted my sin removed so that I could be more beautiful in and of myself and get more and more glory for ME. Wow, when He showed me the ugliness of this gross sin I was astounded… I couldn’t even begin to see into such a deep level of self-deception without The Spirit. This confirms once again the verse that declares, “The heart is deceitful and desperately sick, who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9)
So what exactly is repentance? Quite simply it means to turn away from our sin and instead turn toward God. This turning though is totally contrary to our natural bent. As humans we want what we want. We want to bring glory to ourselves and not to God. We want truth to be defined from our own vantage point. We want God’s goodness to mean that I am happy and comfortable at all times. Our brokenness is so deep and entrenched. Even though I wish that this bent would just magically go away when we give our lives to Jesus… we are stuck with our crappy sin nature until we go home to be with Jesus. So what is the answer? As usual Jesus! We need total surrender to His will, way and truth.
I love that the very next verse to the Jeremiah passage I quoted above says this, “I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind, to give everyone according to their ways, according to the fruit of their deeds.” (Jer 17: 10) The Lord is the one who searches and tests us! And thankfully His only way of being is just and good! And praise God His heart for us “flows from the kind and compassionate mercy of our God.” (Luke 1:78) BUT WE MUST INVITE THIS SEARCHING. We have to say ‘yes.’ We have to cry, ‘Holy Spirit, come!’ Just as David penned in Psalm 139: 23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” This turning, this surrender, is the difference between walking out our days just as the rest of the world does, or actually living in a love relationship with Jesus where we bear fruit. I don’t know about you but I want more of Jesus and I want what I do here on earth to matter for all eternity. Living like the world will never allow for that.
Regular, consistent repentance is needed in the church today. In individual Christ-followers today. We are steeped in pride. We like feeling like we have it together. We don’t like the posture of humility. We want our needs, wants and rights all met. We have a huge sense of entitlement. But the only thing we are entitled to outside of Jesus Christ – is eternal destruction. Let that soak in… because we need that reminder to sit deeply within us.
So then when we are confronted with our own sinful crap, we need to unwrap the gift of repentance. Run to Him, not away when your sin rears up. And once again turn away from your foolishness and turn your eyes back to the only One who can free you from it!
Jesus.
Be quick to dump your sinful junk at the foot of the cross. Exchange all of our junk for the beauty and glory He wants to give you in return. Do you see how seemingly insane our God is! He wants all our junk - He wants to free us from it! And in return He doesn’t give wrath or disappointment, or condemnation. He gives healing! He wants us to live and move and have our being in Him! We need to put away all fear of turning to Him. Our shame and the enemy want to tell us that staying hidden is what is best because The Lord is filled with anger and disappointment and will heap on us a pile of punishment. NO! The cross takes all of our punishment - and if you are found in Jesus, you have given your life to Him - then all your punishment fell on Him. We must learn to hide in Him. He wants to teach us how to walk away from our sin and walk with our heads held high into our relationship and calling in Him. This is an AMAZING GIFT - please take it and unwrap it regularly! Repentance must be something we do daily, weekly, monthly, yearly. Inviting the work of the Spirit to reveal what we can not see in ourselves.This is what allows us to walk in true freedom!
To start, read the prophetic word to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3. Ask Him if He is your first love? (Ephesus) Ask Him if you are willing to be persecuted for Him? (Smyrna) Ask Him if your belief is pure and unstained from the world, and the enemies thoughts? (Pergamum) Ask Him if you are in bed with anyone who is drawing you away from Him? (Thyatira) Ask Him if you are asleep and need to be shaken awake? (Sardis) Ask Him if you have stayed true to His name and obeyed His word above all else? (Philadelphia) Ask Him if you are trusting in the things of this world instead of in Him? (Laodicea) If your answer to any or all of these is negative - then repent! Turn back to Jesus and surrender again, then enjoy the glorious cleansing He has waiting for you!