It’s easy to drive the wrong way on a one way in Chicago and not realize it. But going the wrong way on a highway is another story. If you saw traffic coming towards you on the freeway you would quickly turn around, because your life depended on it. That’s what the word repentance means. One of Jesus’ most repeated messages during his life on earth was: “repent and believe”, repent and believe can be found many times during the four Gospels.
My favorite story about repentance can be found in Luke 5:29-32. If you are beating yourself up or not allowing yourself to truly turn around and grow towards Christ, read this story of a tax collector. Tax collectors were considered the shady guys at the time this passage in the book of Luke was written. Jesus was invited to this tax collector’s home as a friend.
Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 5:29-32
Listen, that’s what Jesus wants to do with you. He wants to be friends. He wants you to stop walking away from Him. He came to save you. See, everyone of us are sinners. We need a savior. The first thing to repent from is living life for ourselves. Jesus desires for you to him, start living life for your creator. That’s the right direction. Repentance best explained is realizing you are going the wrong way, completely turning around with a change in heart, and going the right direction, like on going traffic is heading your way. What do you need to repent of? Turn around and go towards Jesus. I promise it will be the best decision of your life.
