May 8, 2009 - Desiring Repentance

I think the heart that is truly set toward the kingdom of God and the things of God will truly desire repentance.The heart that is merely suffering from the sorrow of this world will ache only because his sin has caused so much pain, but the thought of repentance is repulsive, because it requires so much commitment to not only principles, but a person, God.

But one who longs for closer fellowship with God - someone who is truly one of those of whom Jesus spoke, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” – will desire to be rid of all sinful desires which they often fall prey to, because they know it severs a closer walk with God. They desire more than anything to tighten that bond, and in order to come closer to God, His truly called disciple will go to any length to break ties with the sin that so easily besets him.

You can always tell the ones that are only in it for the fringe benefits (i.e. heaven and not judgment, forgiveness of sins, etc.) but have very little desire to actually know God. Those are the ones who are Sunday morning socialites, but who roll their eyes at talk of holiness and repentance, as if though they were such distasteful topics. Indeed, there is nothing enjoyable about the prospect of a man or woman saying: “Wow, I truly suck! From the very core of my being, I am filled to the brim with selfishness and self-righteousness!” and then beginning the work of daily walking in the light, searching their own heart as God reveals to them their sin, and confessing it, repenting it, handing it over to God, not as another exhibit of evidence for condemnation, but as a wounded man yielding his scorched hand to a doctor to heal it, though the pain of the healing procedure is bound to be wretchedly painful.

I have lived long enough in and around Sunday socialite-ism, and it is, quite honestly, the most shallow way I know how to live, far more shallow even than to live as an honest atheist (I must admit that I have yet to really find one of these, either). One of the key features of this kind of fake religion is a love for the things of the world, but having been exposed to just enough (powerless) religion to appear to have been inoculated by it, while still clinging to those idols which God despises. Take to heart the query of Leonard Ravenhill, “has the world been crucified to you, or does it still fascinate you?” A heaven without God, then, may be closer to your liking. But you will not find one. Not in this universe.

The heart that desires fellowship God more than any other will be the heart that yearns for repentance, however painful it will be. It abhors those worldly things which so easily stand between the man and his God, and he will do whatever he can – sever a limb, if need be – in order to reach his goal.

Pass the scalpel.