Many followers of Jesus stray. They stumble. They err. They sin. They grow lukewarm. They drift into passionless mediocrity. Pews are filled with such people. Some even stand behind the pulpit.
God's merciful kindness leads such people to repentance. The long journey back to full restoration starts with repentance. Repentance can be an immediate response to God. The path to wholeness and healing may take a little longer. Not that God does not receive our repentance. The journey to wholeness sometimes does not happen instantaneously. It often takes much prayer, scripture reading and meditation.
The long journey back takes longer for some than others. Some are able to repent, seek restoration, and turn from sinful behavior. For others there is tug of war in the soul and the flesh does not give up one square inch of territory without a life and death struggle. On the path back to wholeness there are setbacks, sin, and sorrows.
We may not understand why a person lives in a less desirable walk with God and embraces sin, doubts, and lukewarmness. We have all been there at one time or another and I will not be the first to cast a stone. We have been content to live in defeat and the pig pen squalor of sin rather than in the victorious abundant life Jesus purchased for us.
The journey back starts with genuine repentance but when do people really take the time to look inward in reflection and repent over sin anymore? When do churches do it when they have sinned corporately.
While on vacation recently our family attended a church service in a church that used to be strong, vibrant, and effective. That church was a shining lighthouse in the community with many people trusting Christ for salvation. When we set in that worship service the attendance was ten percent of what it used to be. Don't misread that. I do not mean that it was down ten percent. I mean there were only ten percent of the people left in a church building that can hold hundreds and classroom space for hundreds as well. Over the years the church has had several pastors, some good and others bad, and the end result is a church of barely a dozen people. While I sat there I wondered if the church has ever repented of corporate sins and if individuals had repented of personal sins.
Each of us is on a journey. Some are journeying further and further from God. Others are on a fast track toward God. Wherever you find yourself as you read this I pray we will all all start the journey back to God, wholeness, as well as personal and church revival this moment. Each day we delay takes us further down a road we really do not want to travel.
Repentance is not a popular subject these days but it is a vital one. I challenge individuals and churches to look inward and to fall on our faces in repentance and come back home. Home to the arms of a loving, merciful, and gracious God who is willing to receive us and restore us. Start the journey right now without further delay.
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