These verses show us a picture of a man dressed in camel's hair with a leather belt strapped around his waist, and eating locusts and wild honey in the wilderness preaching repentance to all who will listen. In this passage of scripture we can find a true definition of repentance. Too many times we as people equate repentance with just saying sorry. Repentance is more than just saying your sorry. Repentance- defined is to change the way you think and act.
This means that you change what you are doing. Not just trying to justify your actions. Sin is never to be taken lightly. Although we can never earn our salvation, our actions and thoughts should be changing. After all we know from the scripture that the wages of sin is death.
We see in this story, that as he is preaching, here comes out the Pharisees and Sadducees, these group of men who were coming out to be baptized by John, not because they were sorry for what they had done, but just to avoid being punished. For, he calls them a brood of vipers and asks them, "who warned you to flee from the wrath to come." They never really planned on doing anything differently.
Repentance is not just about saying sorry, only to avoid being punished or only saying that you're sorry because you were caught, or only trying to cover your bases, just in case. True repentance involves change, truly being sorry means you plan on never doing it again. Although sometimes we do fail. We never come to a place where we just say, "it's okay, after all I'm only human."
Repentance is a condition of the heart. To truly repent, you must, acknowledge that you have done something wrong. These Pharisees and Sadducees were being like a thief who says he is sorry, but walks away, and at the very first opportunity that comes along, he steals again. They had no intention of changing what they were doing. They were full of pride because, after all, they were Abraham's children.
After asking them about who warned them to flee the wrath to come. He tells them to bear fruit worthy of repentance. In other words, don't just say you're sorry, truly mean you're sorry. By changing what you're doing. You can't just say hey, I'm sorry, and then go out and live the life that you want to live. In Luke 3: 7-14 the author expanded on this whole idea of bearing fruit worthy of repentance.
He told the tax collectors to collect no more than what is appointed to you. He told the soldiers do not intimidate, accuse falsely, and to be content with your wages. If you have two tunics give to one who has none. If you have extra food do likewise. Repentance involves change!
Don't get me wrong, saying you're sorry is a good start, but it is not the end. Repentance is like when you're walking one direction, and then you turn and walk completely in the opposite direction. You're not just saying you're sorry, to avoid punishment. You are acknowledging that you were wrong, and that you desire to live differently, because of God's goodness toward you.
God's love and forgiveness should never be taken for granted. Never say it's okay to sin, because after all God will forgive me. Our attitude counts, God sees through to your heart. It may be easy to fool others, because they cannot see the condition of your heart, but God is never fooled. Don't just say you're sorry, change the way that you think and act, with God's help you can do it.
Until next time,
May, “the Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance, and give you peace
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