A new direction

Another way of speaking about repenting, is to see it as an about turn. Instead of carrying on in the wrong direction, you turn around and go the right way. 

In the Bible, God himself uses that very word, “turn”: “Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations” (Ezekiel 14.6). “Turn away from evil,” is the counsel of Proverbs 3.7. “I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live! Why will you die?” (Ezekiel 18.31, 32). There is a turning away – from all that God disapproves, from our evil ways. 

Then, positively, there is a turning towards the Lord himself. He calls out: “Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God and there is none other” (Isaiah 45.22). It was said of the early Christians, when they heard the good news about Jesus, that they “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1.9).

The essence of human wrong-doing is summed up as exchanging the truth about God for a lie (Romans 1.25); so the way to put right our human condition is to relinquish the lies we have been tricked into, and embrace the truth that God in his wisdom and kindness has revealed by his Son and in his word, the Bible.

As we listen to Jesus and realise who he is, we can verify if we have been ill-informed about God, about our Creator, about the true purpose of life that the Creator had in mind for us. As we read the Bible, we see why Jesus came – not only to teach us truth – vital though that is – but to bring us to see and know God as he really is: kind, loving, holy yet forgiving, merciful and wise, desiring to lead us in the good way.

We are wise when we recognise that God is truly good, and he has the right to our obedience; it is a “good riddance” to turn away from all evil. It is an edifying challenge to decide to live a new life following Jesus as Lord and Master, learning from him, seeking to resemble him in his love, purity and holiness. To be called to be a follower of Jesus is a high calling – an immense privilege. And Jesus accompanies his disciples, calling them his friends. His ears are open to our prayers; his presence as the risen Christ gives us confidence and courage. He promises he will never leave us or forsake us: in whatever situation we may be, we can count on his help. If we fail and repent again, he will forgive and comfort us. If we face tough challenges, he promises us renewed strength.

The Christian is thus called to a life-long positive relationship with God through Jesus Christ. As we repent and believe, he takes us on as his followers and he stays with us through both the good days and the tough times, ever present to encourage us, lift us up, strengthen us in doing what is right and making us a blessing to others. A whole new life opens up to the one who commits to following him in trust and obedience.

Clive Every-Clayton