I’m baking today, but thought I would take a few minutes while the dough is rising to talk about a word:
Repent.
Now there’s a word that’s fading from our vocabulary. I suspect it’s because it is a word that is so frequently misunderstood.
For many, I think, “repent” brings up an image of a sign-carrying, confrontational street preacher telling you that you need to turn away from his favorite list of sins. No wonder people cringe.
For a long time, I thought repentance was about making a U-turn. Yesterday, I was sinning. Today, I’m not. See, I repented.
And I also used to debate in my own mind whether repentance was needed to get you through the door into heaven. No, I thought, probably not. After all, we’re saved by grace and the only requirement is that we believe.
That’s what I used to think.
Now I am quite sure that we cannot see the inside of heaven unless we repent. Peter puts it this way: “The Lord … is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NIV)
If only we knew what it meant.
As I say, I used to think repentance was a change of behavior.
But that’s not technically correct. Repentance is a change of mindset, a change of perspective, a paradigm shift. The behavior change is the result of repentance.
And here’s why you and I need it to get into heaven. Heaven is populated with people who are always loving, always patient, always kind, always joyful, always good. Is that you? Is that me? I expect not. So something needs to happen to us before we can walk the streets of gold. That something is repentance.
Let me offer a definition: Repentance is the process by which we come into alignment with the heart and mind of God. We start thinking the way God thinks. We want what God wants. We love what God loves. We hate what God hates.
And we cannot do that on our own. That’s why repentance is granted to us. (2 Timothy 2:25)
Like the air we breathe, repentance is a gift from God. It’s freely available. All we need to do is ask.
Let me explain how to do that.
When we find some area of our lives that’s out of alignment with what God wants for us, we have an honest conversation with God.
“You, God, want me to do X. I want to do Y. Here’s why I want to do Y. Here’s what I think I’ll lose if I do X. That’s my perspective; but I could be wrong. What do You want me to know?”
If we’re humble enough to listen to God, then He will rewire our thinking so that our hearts start to come into alignment with His heart.
It’s actually a beautiful thing when that happens. Anxiety gives way to peace. Shame evaporates. Unrighteous anger melts away. Dull, dreary depression lifts. It’s like the sun coming out after a storm. Life is so much better, you never want to go back.
And, yes, there’s much more to this. Memories. Lies. MELT. Gut-level beliefs. Solutions. Conclusions. And more.
But the path to repentance is pretty clear: Find the courage to be honest with yourself and with God about what’s really going on, and have the humility to listen to God Himself when He has something He wants to tell you.
Repent! It’s central to the Christian life, and it’s a word we cannot allow ourselves to forget.
Have a super weekend. Happy Easter!
Dwight
