If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Today, all around the world, we hear and see the devastating effect of civilization’s moral decline. People are sliding into sinful depravity, such as the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Unconcerned about their final destiny, wicked people rush headlong into the pit of sin, without looking back.
Unfortunately, this trend of moral decline has not only permeated individuals, families, and nations; it has also permeated many church members, ministers, and churches. All of these are lost souls who need a Savior. Jesus is that Savior.
Yes, I did include church members, ministers, and churches in my list of those who are in need of a Savior. They need a Saviour because true salvation requires a repentant heart, and that requirement is missing in many church messages.
I know this lesson may not sit well with some readers, because some people despise being told that they have to turn from their sins. Instead, they want to retain their sins and mix those sins with a head-knowledge of Jesus Christ; and at the same time, they claim to be saved. It will not work; therefore, I will teach God’s Word.
We are in the time of God’s grace and He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). However, do not mistake God’s grace as a license to sin (Jude 1:4).
Scriptures consistently throughout the Bible, stress that in order to be healed (salvation) there must be a repentant heart. Furthermore, true repentance is more than just dropping morsels of praise in an attempt to appease God and win His blessings. Rather, true repentance is a genuine sorrow evidenced by a complete change in attitude, which results in a turning from sin and a turning to God.
For example, prior to repentance, the sinful man is walking down a road in one direction. After repentance, that same man turns around and begins walking in the opposite direction. He does not just do a 45-degree turn and mix some sin with some holy, nor does he just do a 90-degree turn and mix half sin with half holy. Rather, the true repentant man does a 180-degree turn and he begins going in a complete opposite direction.
Quickly, everyone grab your Bible, turn to Luke 19:1-10, and read the story of Zacchaeus. After Zacchaeus had an encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus repented. His repentance was more than just empty words. After he repented, Zacchaeus shared with the poor and returned that which he had stolen…he even gave back more than he had stolen. He felt a true sorrow for his sins that was evidenced by his actions.
Likewise, when a sinful man truly repents, his repentance will be evidenced by his actions. He will restore that which he had stolen (Ezekiel 33:14-16), and he will turn from sin that previously destroyed (Ezekiel 18:28). “…turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit…” (Ezekiel 18:30-31).
A godly sorrow, a broken spirit, a contrite heart, and a change in actions evidence a true repentant man (Psalms 51:17, Jonah 3:5-10, Joel 2: 13, James 4:4-10, 2 Corinthians 7:10, Matthew 21:28-32).
Moreover, when a true repentant man humbles himself before God and turns from his prior wicked ways, his sins are forgiven and his heart is healed (Isaiah 1:18-19, Jeremiah 18:8-9, Micah 7:5-9).
Compare the outcome of a repentant man with the outcome of an unrepentant man. Whereas the repentant man is forgiven and healed, the unrepentant man is cursed with pain, distress, sorrow, hardness, and destruction (Psalms 32:3-4, Romans 2:4-6, Lamentations 1:20, Isaiah 1:20).
While you are comparing the repentant man with the unrepentant man, open your Bibles to Matthew 27:3-5 and Matthew 26:75. What was the outcome of the unrepentant man, Judas, compared to the outcome of the repentant man, Peter?
Although we are still in the day of grace, we are also in the day of the itchy ear syndrome. Many churches have abandoned God’s requirement of a repentant man. Please do not make this mistake. If you discover that you have sinned, truly repent with a godly sorrow.
Additionally, have nothing to do with a rebellious man who has knowingly turned his back to God. “..Deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5).
So you see, you can harbor a ship that is adrift on the open seas, you can harbor a man that is blinded since birth, but you had better not harbor the rebellious man (Titus 1:20, Ephesians 5:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:6 & 14).
If you harbor the rebellious man or if you, yourself, are a rebellious man, then on the judgment day, you just may hear a famous line from an old show of “I Love Lucy.” Ricky Ricardo would say, “Lucy, you got some splainin to do!”
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:6-7
Three Key Concepts
1. A repentant man is evidenced through his actions.
2. God restores and heals the true repentant man.
3. Turn the unrepentant man over to Satan.
