Once Upon a Time... I was Lost

As I drove my way home yesterday, after almost 1 month away from Kuching, I suddenly realized that I was going the wrong way on a one-way street! It was dark, newly constructed and lonely road. Have you ever experienced that? [Okay, maybe not in Kuching, somewhere else?] What would you do?

Hear ye, what you (and I) do to correct your error is a good illustration of biblical idea of repentance. You’ll looking for signposts, and make a U-turn and change your direction as fast as you can. U-turn is brought about when you realize that you are going the wrong way on the road as you drive. So it is with repentance, it is brought about when you realize that you are going the wrong way in life.

“Repent, then, and turn to God,” said repented-saint Peter, “so that he will forgive your sins” (Acts 3:19GNB). Prophet Jeremiah wrote, “Return, all of you who have turned away from the LORD; he will heal you and make you faithful” (3:22GNB).

The Bible calls this wrong way – SIN. Repentance, here, is admitting your sin against God, sin of rejecting Jesus, and makes a commitment to change the direction (metanoia [Greek]; 'to change one's mind') of your life with God’s help and by His grace. I know. I know. Words like ‘sin’ and ‘repentance’ are not popular and favorite vocabulary for our millennial generations today [P.s: have you heard preaching about ‘sin’ and ‘repentance’ nowadays? Or read a book about it lately? Not popular~] But you see, it is essential because it is the only way to arrive at your Destination in life – to be with God in His Kingdom. Repent! Make a U-turn away from sin, 360 degree to God, in your life. Go! He’ll make you faithful.

Let me close with a wonderful poet by J. Addison Alexander;

There is a time, we know not when,

A point we know not where,

That marks the destiny of men,

To glory or despair.

There is a line by us unseen,

That crosses every path;

The hidden boundary between

God’s patience and his wrath.

How far may we go on in sin?

How long will God forbear?

Where does hope end, and where begin

The confines of despair?

An answer from the skies is sent;

“Ye that from God depart,

While it is called today, repent,

And harden not your heart.”

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP. ‘REPENT.’