Intellectually, we know that repentance is not only for drug addicts, fornicators, serial gossipers and others wallowing in cesspools of sin.
But actually internalizing the ongoing need that EVERY believer has for repentance is more of a struggle.
We see SO many people around us with lifestyles that resemble grease rags amidst just-washed dinner napkins. And it is quite convenient emotionally to believe the lie that an angry God is going to throw only the dirtiest rags into the eternal incinerator rather than ourselves.
If we avoid the flames, though, it’s not because we’re less dirty than Mr. or Mrs. Grease Rag.
For if we stand before God with even one tiny little spot of sin still showing on the back hem of our life garment, we’re going down.
There is only one way to be right with God and that is to have our noses pointed toward Him at all times and the covering of His Son’s blood enveloping us.
That’s what repentance does. It turns our noses from sniffing after the garbage of this world and has us sniffing after the pleasing aroma of a life surrendered to God and His Son Jesus Christ.
For it’s the 100 percent covering of Christ’s perfect blood that saves us, not our imperfect capacity to avoid the splatter stains of sin.
I John 1:9 promises that if a believer repents by confessing his or her sin, God will faithfully forgive.
This promise is for the redeemed, not just for the unsaved seeking eternal life.
You and I typically strive to have clean “wedding clothes” on our soul’s back so that we’re ready should the trumpet blast and Jesus appears in the heavens.
But we mess up now and then. In different ways but with the same results — we’re tainted by sin.
That’s when we — yes, we Christians — need to repent by admitting our sin to God, asking Him to forgive us and trusting that He will.
It’s the same promise spoken through the prophet Ezekial 600 years before Christ. You can check it out at this link.
The measure of our willingness to repent is a measure of spiritual maturity. Please join me in praying for more readiness to seek God’s forgiveness after we’ve crossed the line into sin whether it is via gossiping, lusting, coveting, bitterness-holding or whatever.
It might be happening with less frequency, but it still happens and will continue until we cross the finish line of our race on earth.
Memorize Acts 3:19 and you’ll be more likely to, as needed, repent so that times of refreshing might come from the Lord.
As always, I love you
Martin
