Day Fifty Four: Coming to Repentance in the Midst of A Storm
Crisis like the one we're experiencing now bring out the best and worst in people. I know that it has brought out the best and worst in me. As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, genuine sorrow leads to repentance. Crisis definitely make us see ourselves as we haven't seen ourselves before. In our analysis of our actions and reactions we discover some things that we really hate. An unrepentant person might look at those wrong actions and reactions and bury them. They may even deny that they happened. It's normal to want to ignore it or justify it. I've admittedly done it.
I've said some hurtful things and I've written some hurtful things. I freely admit it. Anger has created some angst among my family and friends. Being quarantined with family after an extended period of time can wear on the best of us. We say things we don't really mean, or we write things that now seem petty and mean.
Coming to repentance in the midst of a storm isn't easy. You want to hang on to the hurt and pain. You play blame games with no winners. I believe that God is speaking to us in the midst of this storm. He is calling us to repentance. In 2 Chronicles 7:14(KJV) it says: "If my people, which are called by my name, humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Listen to what this verse says. We need to repent of our hate driven actions and reactions, and ask ourselves what God's will is in this current crisis. We also need to remember that "he that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13(KJV)
A lot of evil doings are being revealed right now. It is only a matter of time before those who perpetrated these evil acts will be exposed for who they are. They are still trying to cover their sins. God sees. The good news is that "if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statues, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die." Ezekiel 18:21(KJV). God takes no pleasure in punishing us, but asks us to repent and live. It is also interesting to note that if a righteous man falls into evil ways and is not repentant, it is the same as if the wicked continued in their wickedness. All the good works he had done are forgotten and not remembered. You may be thinking right about now why the righteous man suffers the same consequences for his sin as the wicked. It really does make sense when you start to think about it. Unrepentant souls whether or not they in the past performed righteous acts are still unsaved. Truly repentant souls confess their sins and don't take them up again.
Luke 13:3(KJV) makes this crystal clear..."I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." The premise of this answer is that some were ratting on Pilate for his practices while not looking at their own bad practices. No one's sin is any greater than anyone else' sin. We all have sinned and fall short of God's grace and mercy. I think in today's culture it is too easy to point out someone else's sins and shortcomings and not look at our own. True repentance is not superficial. It doesn't wear out when it seems that the storm is past. It has to be understood that every action or reaction does have its consequences. There is, however, a way to bear those consequences and embrace life.
Repentance is a necessary step we all need to take right now. Acts 3:19(KJV) tells you clearly what you must do to receive eternal life. It reads: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." We have great knowledge, yet we haven't grasped the true meaning of repentance. We need to beware of our arrogance, thinking that we don't need to repent. It is true that "the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent."(Acts 17:30 KJV) Yes, it is hard. We want to keep those secret sins close. It isn't healthy though to hold onto those sins that weigh you down. It is good to remind ourselves of God's goodness and forbearance in the midst of a storm.
Romans 2 starts off with the statement that we shouldn't judge others, because we are guilty of doing the same thing. We can't escape God's judgment. God is good, but doesn't allow anyone to take advantage of that goodness. He does see when someone actually despises his infinite goodness and forbearance. I am grateful that God sees us, and that he knows us intimately better than we know ourselves. He is long suffering, unwilling to let anyone die eternally. It is that strong love that hates sin, yet loved us enough to send his son die for our sins. I am pretty amazed by his love for me. 2 Peter 3:9(KJV) says this: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
It is good to remember that God's judgment is coming upon an unrepentant people. They need to understand the severity of his judgment so they can get right with him. Now is not the time to make everyone feel comfortable and say nice words. Now is the time to emphasize that God is a God of wrath, but is open to those who truly repent and seek him while he may be found.
I've said some hurtful things and I've written some hurtful things. I freely admit it. Anger has created some angst among my family and friends. Being quarantined with family after an extended period of time can wear on the best of us. We say things we don't really mean, or we write things that now seem petty and mean.
Coming to repentance in the midst of a storm isn't easy. You want to hang on to the hurt and pain. You play blame games with no winners. I believe that God is speaking to us in the midst of this storm. He is calling us to repentance. In 2 Chronicles 7:14(KJV) it says: "If my people, which are called by my name, humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Listen to what this verse says. We need to repent of our hate driven actions and reactions, and ask ourselves what God's will is in this current crisis. We also need to remember that "he that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13(KJV)
A lot of evil doings are being revealed right now. It is only a matter of time before those who perpetrated these evil acts will be exposed for who they are. They are still trying to cover their sins. God sees. The good news is that "if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statues, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die." Ezekiel 18:21(KJV). God takes no pleasure in punishing us, but asks us to repent and live. It is also interesting to note that if a righteous man falls into evil ways and is not repentant, it is the same as if the wicked continued in their wickedness. All the good works he had done are forgotten and not remembered. You may be thinking right about now why the righteous man suffers the same consequences for his sin as the wicked. It really does make sense when you start to think about it. Unrepentant souls whether or not they in the past performed righteous acts are still unsaved. Truly repentant souls confess their sins and don't take them up again.
Luke 13:3(KJV) makes this crystal clear..."I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." The premise of this answer is that some were ratting on Pilate for his practices while not looking at their own bad practices. No one's sin is any greater than anyone else' sin. We all have sinned and fall short of God's grace and mercy. I think in today's culture it is too easy to point out someone else's sins and shortcomings and not look at our own. True repentance is not superficial. It doesn't wear out when it seems that the storm is past. It has to be understood that every action or reaction does have its consequences. There is, however, a way to bear those consequences and embrace life.
Repentance is a necessary step we all need to take right now. Acts 3:19(KJV) tells you clearly what you must do to receive eternal life. It reads: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." We have great knowledge, yet we haven't grasped the true meaning of repentance. We need to beware of our arrogance, thinking that we don't need to repent. It is true that "the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent."(Acts 17:30 KJV) Yes, it is hard. We want to keep those secret sins close. It isn't healthy though to hold onto those sins that weigh you down. It is good to remind ourselves of God's goodness and forbearance in the midst of a storm.
Romans 2 starts off with the statement that we shouldn't judge others, because we are guilty of doing the same thing. We can't escape God's judgment. God is good, but doesn't allow anyone to take advantage of that goodness. He does see when someone actually despises his infinite goodness and forbearance. I am grateful that God sees us, and that he knows us intimately better than we know ourselves. He is long suffering, unwilling to let anyone die eternally. It is that strong love that hates sin, yet loved us enough to send his son die for our sins. I am pretty amazed by his love for me. 2 Peter 3:9(KJV) says this: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
It is good to remember that God's judgment is coming upon an unrepentant people. They need to understand the severity of his judgment so they can get right with him. Now is not the time to make everyone feel comfortable and say nice words. Now is the time to emphasize that God is a God of wrath, but is open to those who truly repent and seek him while he may be found.
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