We live in a generation where repentance is particularly unfashionable. Even amongst Christian young adults there seems to be a reluctance to purge ourselves from our sins and kneel unashamedly before the cross. Instead we play off our transgressions and usually forget about the ways we wrong God. We abuse God's forgiveness and pretend as if the mistakes we make are modest and act as if we are cool with God.
This is not a healthy relationship with God. It allows us to believe that we have a monopoly over our own salvation. Hence we do not come before the Lord in contrition but believe that our social life is reflective of Christian living. This is not Christian living! It is merely a Christian social club. Participating in Church and bible study and youth group do not alleviate the ultimate requirement to be convicted of your sin. This means to identify the muck in your life and feel the agony that God experiences when God sees our inequities. As Paul states to the Church of Corinth:
“As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”
2 Corinthians 7:9-10
A great example of this contrition is King David in his response to committing adultery and murder.
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.....”
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We are totally dependant upon God's forgiveness of us. We are not Christians because of evidence but because of faith vested the power of a saviour. I pity the man who changes his mind because of evidence. Yes creation sings the name of its creator but an understanding that God exists does not lead to the Cross, to repentance. A changed mind is not a changed heart. Rationality does not lead a man to agonising over his corrupt heart. It is with humility that I turn to God. My career or my university education will not save me from His coming wrath.
“[I]f my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
