Repent

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.
Ezekiel 18:32 ESV

We all have choices. We’re all able to choose a course of action and to pursue it to the best of our ability. Ideally, we're striving for an outcome that honors God and aligns with His will. Too often that's easier said than done. Jesus warns us of a wide path and its outcome, destruction. He also encourages us with the outcome of choosing the narrow path, eternal life. It seems so simple, yet in the moment, temptation is right there to knock us off course. It's a battle which ultimately is decided by our decision to yield to the Spirit or go our own way.

So, what happens when we make the wrong choice? Do we lose our salvation? Do we face the full wrath of God? If one is a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, their salvation is assured. Salvation is never a matter of our works; it's based on God's grace. One of the unique attributes of God is that He's immutable which means He never changes. Scripture reminds us that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If you have questions about any of this, I encourage you to check out our devotional series on the Five Solas. The assurance of our salvation, however, doesn't mean we're exempt from the consequences of our choices and actions. God often uses these consequences to serve as lessons for helping us to make better choices next time.

The first step requires a choice to repent. Repent is simply choosing to go a different way. Specifically, making the God honoring decision and not continuing to pursue sin. Remember, sin means missing the mark. In this case the mark is God's design for our lives. If we sincerely want to repent, God will not only forgive us but also guide us back into alignment. He often uses those consequences as the platform to effect change. The process of repentance starts with confession. An acknowledgement that we've done wrong, we're truly sorry for what we've done and the harm it's caused, and that we desire to make it right. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Praise God for the spiritual cleansing He gives us. We should never look at this as a license to sin, rather the opportunity to grow in our sanctification.

The next steps in the process of repentance are critical. We must learn how to avoid the sin, to resist temptation, and to make God honoring choices. All of this is logical, but the question remains, how does it happen. There's no magic formula or quick fix that will result in transformation. The tools of transformation are the same fundamental disciplines every Christ follower is encouraged to adopt. Sincere prayer, intentional time in God’s Word, and authentic fellowship with fellow believers all done consistently will be the basis for change. If we're honest, most of the time our attraction to sin grows as our adherence to Christian habits wanes. For most, the biggest obstacle is getting started. The enemy wants to keep you inactive. As time passes the sting of sin fades and if nothing changes, we're highly likely to repeat our bad choices. One other key point to remember when it comes to your prayer, time in the Word, and fellowship is to not just generalize but focus on countermeasures to the temptation and sin you struggle with. God always has something to say on every aspect of our lives. It may not be specific to a unique choice but there's something on the topic overall that can be applied. If you dig deep, seek diligently, and are transparent with your brothers the Lord will guide your steps. When He does, follow Him without looking to the left or the right.

Repentance isn't always easy, but it is rewarding. The peace that comes from walking in alignment with God's will makes facing the consequences of our sin more bearable. In reality, the consequences will be there whether we repent or not. The blessing comes from the restoration and the equipping to not repeat the same mistake over and over. David sums it up well in Psalm 1.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3 ESV‬‬