March 22, 2013

  • REPENTANCE DEFINED

     

    “Repentance is the golden key

    that opens the palace of eternity.”

    --John Milton

     

    BUT WHAT REALLY DOES IT MEAN TO REPENT?

     

    The Bible says, “Godly sorrow worketh repentance” (II Corinthians 7:10). “Repent ye, therefore, and be converted that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19).

     

    To repent is to alter one’s way of looking at life; it is to take God’s point of view instead of ours.

     

    Repentance is more than remorse; it means giving up sin. It is a sincere resolution and endeavor to the utmost of our power, to conform all our actions to the will of God. William Nevins said, “There are two kinds of repentance: one is that of Judas, the other that of Peter; the one is ice broken, the other is ice melted. Repentance unto life will be repentance in the life.”

     

    Jesus said, “Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).

     

    Repentance is not something one can delay. You cannot repent too soon, because you do not know how soon it may be too late.

     

    Dwight L. Moody used to say, “There will be no Bible in the lost world to be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path, to guide you to eternal mansions. You make light of the Bible now; you laugh at its teachings; but bear in mind; there will be no Bible in the lost world. You have a Bible here. Had you not better take it now, had you not better read it, had you not better believe it?”

     

    (From The Best of D.L. Moody edited by Wilbur M. Smith, 1971 by Moody Press).       –Paul Evans