Matthew 3:2 “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
“Repent” is almost a four-letter word in some circles these days. Not only in society at large but even in the Church. Repentance indicates a failure that needs to be addressed. Biblically speaking it means a sin that needs to be turned away from.
“Sin” is another term that has attained a near four-letter word status. Churches do not like to talk about it. Yet sin and repentance are at the core of the gospel. Since sadly, sin is a part of our lives, repentance must also be.
The Bible tells us that we all sin (Romans 3:23) and that the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23). Confession and repentance, which bring forgiveness, are the remedy for this situation. Unfortunately, this goes against two major tenants of our society’s belief system – equality and tolerance.
The idea that all people are equal is central to the American ideology. In many ways this is true. All people are equal in that all have been created in the image of God. Also, by U.S. law all people have the same rights and responsibilities. But it does not stop there. In our modern “tolerant” culture equality does not stop with people. Now ideas, beliefs, and lifestyles are all considered equal.
The very concept of sin and repentance challenges that belief. Believing there is sin and the need to repent says that there is a higher standard that all people are called to adhere to. This standard supersedes all other views. It is by definition intolerant of competing ideologies.
Yet, John’s admonition to repent is still very needed today no matter how unpopular it is. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. In this kingdom God is supreme and His word is law. People can only come to the King on His terms. Those terms are unconditional surrender. Until a person acknowledges that God’s standard is THE standard by which everything is judged then that person cannot be a part of the kingdom.
Heavenly King, You are holy and Your ways are right and just. We do not live up to the holy standard You have set. Grant us repentance unto life that nothing may hinder our relationship with You.