Assume for a moment that a man sets out on a trip. Assume as well that this same man is supposed to drive from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Chicago, Illinois, for a business meeting. As he gets in his car to embark on his journey, he is supposed to be traveling to Chicago, but instead of going that direction, he gets on the highway that leads toward St. Louis, Missouri. No matter how long the man travels down this highway, he will never reach his required destination.
Continue to assume that while on his trip, he decides to call his best friend. We will say that his friend’s name is Joe, and the man on the trip is named Fred. Fred and Joe begin to discuss various things on the phone, which in time leads to a discussion of the trip itself. When Joe hears the news that Fred is on the wrong highway, and that actually the highway that Fred is traveling on leads to St. Louis, Joe tells Fred that he must turn around and go a different direction.
Nevertheless, Fred is stubborn and does not want to listen to Joe. Joe persists and tells Fred yet again that he is going the wrong way. At this point, Fred takes it personally and hangs up the phone. As he continues down the road, he finds himself frustrated with the words of his friend, but at the same time, he starts to wonder if there is truth to what he has been told.
Fred has never really cared much for the GPS, but he decides to pull it out of the glove compartment. As he does so, he wipes away the dust and hopes the thing still works. He thinks he may have an outdated model and wonders if it will be able to charge. As he plugs the GPS into the adapter in his car, it turns on right away. Shortly after, he plugs in his destination (Chicago, Illinois), and to his surprise, the GPS also tells him to “make a U-turn.” He has been traveling the wrong way for a considerable amount of time, and the thought of turning around and following the instruction of the GPS does not appeal much to Fred.
At this point, Fred begins to entertain thoughts of how intelligent he is. He thinks of how he is generally smarter than his friends, he is often right when making decisions, there are people who often agree with him, and he is doing well in his line of work. All of this thinking flares Fred’s pride and keeps him driving along the same path. He also invites thoughts of a different friend who told him to travel down this highway, and that it would take him right to Chicago “in no time.” He chooses to disregard the fact that his friend has never actually been to Chicago – and to disregard the fact that Joe has been and was someone very familiar with the route. Finally, he finds a way to rationalize away the fact that a GPS is a reliable device to use when getting from point A to point B.
Fred inevitably unplugs the GPS, stuffs it back into his glovebox, and continues down the same road. In due time, he arrives at the destination that he was traveling toward. He is amazed to see at the end of his journey that he has not arrived in Chicago after all, but rather St. Louis. He says to himself, “I believed that I was going the right way. What did I do wrong?” It turns out that not every path is the right path. He quickly remembers the warning signs that were presented to him. Joe told him to turn around, as did the GPS. Unfortunately for Fred, by the time he got to St. Louis, it was too late to turn around and make it to his meeting on time.
Personalization
The same is true for the people of the earth. They are being told to turn. They are being told that they are going in the wrong direction. Christians are telling them to repent, which means to turn. The Bible (much like a GPS) is telling them to turn. It is not enough for one to believe that he is going in the right direction. He must actually be going in the right direction.
Boiling down Christianity to simply believing certain things is one of the greatest lies within the church today. Someone cannot simply be going in the right direction by believing that he is going in the right direction. He also needs to be traveling down that path. For this reason, Jesus said, “ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (KJV, Matt. 7:13-14). The way is narrow, and there will be few who find it. As a result, repentance must be both proclaimed and applied. People must turn from the wrong path to walk upon the narrow one.
What does the Bible say about repentance?
The Bible has a lot to say about repentance, all of which cannot be contained in its entirety in this article. However, there is one facet of repentance that must be noted. It is the facet of God’s involvement in repentance. The following three Scriptures paint an interesting picture concerning the repentance that must take place in one’s life:
• “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:30-31).
• “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18).
• “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:24-24).
Once again, the Bible has a lot to say about repentance. Numerous Scriptures speak of repentance in such a way that repentance is commanded. The command demands a response from the individual. This cannot and should not be ignored in the light of the preceding verses.
At the same time, the portions of Scripture that were just presented tell of the way in which God is the Giver of repentance. Recognizing this fact is also vitally important – it should not be ignored simply because repentance is commanded. The two facets presented are meant to be united rather than divided.
Where does this lead us?
When the Bible speaks of God as the Giver of repentance, it highlights the fact that salvation belongs to God alone. Man will not glory in himself on the day of redemption. Man will only fix his eyes upon his Savior, Who has given him such a great and wonderful gift. He will not be consumed with a self-focused and prideful attitude concerning his repentance, as though he was better than all those who did not repent. He will see God as the Giver of repentance and will be eternally grateful.
The fact that God is the Giver of repentance is also something that should bring about a dependence upon God. Mankind was created to be dependent upon his Creator. One of the major problems that man faces is the belief that he is self-sufficient. This belief must be mortified; it cannot be allowed to fester.
Man was created to be a dependent creature, and the Bible, time and time again, alludes to this point. Man is absolutely and utterly dependent upon God for repentance. He does not have, in his flesh, anything that aspires to do such a noble act. Repentance is from God and brought about by the Spirit. Apart from the Spirit’s working, repentance could never be.
Seek the Lord, in a state of dependence upon God, to do His work. At the same time, recognize the commands of God and turn. Repent! You will only walk the narrow path if you turn from the broad one.
Final prayer
Father, I pray that You would grant me repentance. Jesus, please give that which Your Word says that You give. Holy Spirit, please bring about a fresh repentance in my heart today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.