Christ’s first recorded sermon in the Gospels is “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Repent is the Greek word metanoeo, which means to change one’s mind or way of action; however, it also carries with it the idea of feeling remorse. So, when Jesus calls us to repent, he’s essentially telling us to recognize the ways we’ve fallen short and choose a better path as a result.
However, knowing that you need to choose a better path doesn’t always make it easy to do so. Repentance is a humbling process meant to change our hearts as much as our actions.
To that end, I’ve often found C.S. Lewis’s perspective on the subject helpful: “If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road.”
It’s not always easy to see taking a step back as progress, but oftentimes, there’s no other way to go forward. The question then becomes, are we willing to take that first step?
The truth is that we can’t really know how to answer that question until we try. It’s easy to act penitent or ask God to forgive our sins, but to truly repent and turn back to God will often mean making some pretty tough changes.
Jesus promises that it will be worth it in the end, and he’s given us every reason to trust that he’s correct. But he leaves it to us to decide if we’re willing to act on that promise.
So, are there any areas of your life where you’ve asked God to forgive your sins but have yet to truly repent of them? Are you walking down any roads that are taking you further away from the Lord?
True repentance may never get all that easy for us, but the first step is often the hardest.
Are you willing to take that step today? – Ryan Denison
Leave a Reply