Repentance Is For A Lifetime—YES, ForEverMore!
Make no mistake about it—repentance is—not for just yesterday, not for just today, and not for just tomorrow or the tomorrow after tomorrow.
We know because of the truth:
God’s promises: to love us and to sustain us are forevermore!
God’s grace is for a lifetime!
Our journey of faith is for a lifetime!
God’s mercy is new—every single morning of every single day!
Yes, we know because of the truth: Our lifetime extends way beyond the number of days we walk upon this earth!
We will die; yes, we will. Our earthly bodies are temporal and not designed to last for eternity. The body that houses our soul is decaying as it becomes weaker, a little more every day; yet our soul is eternal.
OUR SOUL WILL NEVER DIE &
WHO WE CHOOSE TO BELIEVE DETERMINES WITH WHOM WE WILL SHARE OUR ETERNITY!
Eternity with GOD—OR—Eternity with SATAN: the choice is ours to make.
To better understand, go with me into a second grade VBS classroom; see eleven eight and nine-year-olds who have their whole lives ahead of them. See the brightness of their eyes as they think of details to add as the Bible story is told. The Bible story taught on this particular night focuses upon the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. It is apparent these children know the details; see their small arms shoot up into the air as they wait their turn to add their detail to our discussion. It was there, in their voiced details, that I found myself amazed. These young children have walked this earth for a mere eight or nine years, and already they know the details associated with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
Some live an entire lifetime and never know these details.
Some know the details of God’s offer of Salvation and walk through their whole lives, never asking Jesus into their hearts.
There are so many beautiful words. One particular word has settled deep into my mind: the word “awry” holds a life-image and life-example, one that helps us understand the way we are NOT to walk through this earthly life.
We plan and plan and make even more plans, but sometimes the best laid plans just go awry. We take steps toward our life-goals, hoping and praying that God will bless the goals we have made, but sometimes the best, organized goals just go awry.
So what are we, who have asked Jesus into our hearts, to do?
- We are to remain obedient to the Lord.
- We are to remain faithful.
- We are to remain surrendered.
And how are we (God’s children) to do this?
- We allow God to control the details.
- We allow God to plan out our steps.
- We allow God to lead us day-by-day.
Bible theologian Matthew Henry said it this way:
“If men make God’s glory their end,
And His will their rule,
He will direct their steps by His Spirit and grace.”
The Holy Spirit of God directs our steps from the inside—out as we walk within this life and the Spirit will guide us as we walk, as we become more and more and more like Jesus. That’s right. We are not marching toward our death-date; we are marching toward our eternity.
Repentance Found in Christ Is For An Eternal Lifetime—YES, ForEverMore!
As I stood among the classroom of second graders, it was apparent—they understood. They may not be God’s children yet, but they knew the way to repentance.
They knew how Jesus gave His life for them.
They knew how God resurrected Jesus to new life.
These children, at such a small age, knew most of the details of repentance.
Every man—woman—boy—girl—All of us are walking through this earthly life toward an eternal destination, a place where we will remain forevermore. Where we go hinges upon our individual decision: whether we believe in Jehovah God, in the resurrection of His Son Jesus & whether we have asked Jesus to forgive us, allowing his shed blood to cover our sins.
- We either accept the truth of God—OR—we do not.
- We either ask God for forgiveness of our sins—OR—we do not.
- We either believe—OR—we do not.
- We either allow the blood of Christ Jesus to cover our sins—OR—we do not.
- We either walk in repentance—OR—we do not.
Let us realize that our repentance is day-by-day, for a lifetime—YES, ForEverMore!
Once we have chosen to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, Redeemer, and LORD,
- We make small, daily decisions,
- We spend time digging daily into God’s Word,
- We pray daily, intimately seeking God’s will.
- We serve others each day, so they may see Him.
- We remain faithful, obedient, and surrendered, & then, one day soon,
- We will meet Jesus face-to-face and share eternity with Him.
We have tasted of God’s salvation, so why would we ever try to make our own plans, or to seek goals that He does not lead us to seek?!!!
We should NOT!
Repentance Is For A Lifetime—YES, ForEverMore!
See with me God’s Holy Word. The apostle Peter wrote to those who resided as aliens (as strangers) in the land, those who were scattered throughout the known world, to those who had been chosen by God the Father, to those who had accepted Christ as Savior. Peter was writing to remind them how their sins were covered with the blood of Christ, how they were God’s children.
“If you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
(1 Peter 2: 3-5)
We are reminded by the apostle Paul the wonderful promises of Almighty God, given through His Son Jesus.
“For the Son of God, Christ Jesus; who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but is yes in Him [in Jesus].
For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.”
(2 Corinthians 1: 19-20)
Help us to not go awry, and help us fix our eyes upon Jesus—YES, ForEverMore!
Help us remember—Jesus Is Victorious—YES, ForEverMore!
Help us recall the truth—Repentance Is For A Lifetime—YES, ForEverMore!