Have you ever been sorry you did something? I mean, truly sorry? How long before you were doing it again? Repentance, the dictionary tells us, is “remorse or contrition for past conduct or sin.” So I’ve been thinking about repentance. Sometimes “sorry” just isn’t enough. Does that sound mean? I don’t think so. Sorry means that at that moment in time you are sorry for your actions. But what if sorry means you really are sorry at that moment in time, but perhaps not sorry enough to avoid the action in the future. “I’m sorry I forgot to……..” and then you do it again. “Sorry” might mean “for the moment.” So, are you truly sorry you did something that hurt someone else, or are you sorry you got caught? Are you really sorry you didn’t do something you needed to do or are you just saying the words so that you can feel better that you said them? But true repentance is “remorse.” And remorse, the dictionary tells us is, “moral anguish arising from repentance for past misdeeds; bitter regret.” “Anguish,” the dictionary tells us is “agonizing physical or mental pain; torment.” “Moral anguish” -- now that sounds like true regret, something not easily forgotten. That sounds like something you have wrestled with during the long lonely night. Although I believe that sin is sin, we, the justifying human beings that we are, are prone to say, “Well, I’m better than…… At least I didn’t do……..” Those people who feel they have really messed up, they wrestle with “moral anguish.” Their joy is profound when they come to the understanding of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. There are no big or little sins, however there are those of us who have screwed up royally and have much to regret. We really come to understand in our hearts what forgiveness really feels like – it lightens the soul! Luke 15:1-7: Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. Then Jesus told them this parable: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Your model to hold yourself and your behaviors up to is not your neighbor – it’s Jesus. And remember, please don’t be like the Pharisees. You do not have the right to judge others because of their past actions (and boy, do I know this is a hard one). The Lord sees into their hearts – not you. You do not have the right to keep them from coming through the doors of your church. You do not have the right to doubt them. Yes, the Lord can see into their hearts and you cannot, so you cannot tell how they truly feel. However, true repentance will show in their behavior and works. You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but not all of the people all of the time. But never forget, you can never fool God. I am so very thankful for forgiveness! Have a blessed day!
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 12:04:07 +0000
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