Road to Reflection
The Christian life is one of constant repentance.
Dear Reader,
It is my desire and prayer that you are in a good state of spirit, soul and body as you receive this.
This letter is to share a lesson that the Lord has been gracious to teach me in recent times - the need for repentance.
Sometimes, we believers tend to think that repentance majorly (for lack of another word) occurs at the New Birth - once I've given my life to Christ, and I'm walking with Him, I don't need any other repentance; repentance is mostly for unbelievers etc. It's that unconscious thought that sits somewhere in the minds of tons of us, without our awareness of it.
Today, I kindly implore you to get rid of this idea, should you have it. This is because Christianity is a life of constant repentance - a turning away from anything that displeases God. Often starting with a realization in one's mind, and remorse that lead to a corresponding action, our repentance involves us constantly changing our inner and outward lives, as we follow the Master.
Truth is humans are stiff-necked. Our natural state has nothing good in it. Even when we walk with Christ, there's a tendency for the old man to rise and seek to please itself. For this reason and more, we have been called to die daily (not something we like) and put ourselves below Jesus' feet. Yet, it is not news that sometimes, our biases, perceptions, flaws, idiosyncrasies, ignorance, weaknesses and what-nots may cause us to sin.
Someone dear to me once said something that struck and stuck: Except God opens your eyes, you will not see. This is true not only of spiritual truths but even in our walk with Him. So many times we fall and it is out of God's mercy that His Spirit firmly yet lovingly shines a light on our shortcomings, so that we can repent, seek forgiveness and move forward with Him.
The goal of every believer should be to emulate Jesus Christ and conform to His image. This takes a total submission to God, and saying no to ourselves every time. It does not happen overnight but progressively, and as long as we turn to God in humility and faith, He will give us grace to live above sin, in righteousness and holiness with Him.